Steffi Graf defeated six-time defending champion Martina Navratilova in a rematch of the previous year's final, 5–7, 6–2, 6–1 to win the ladies' singles tennis title at the 1988 Wimbledon Championships.

It was also Graf's third step towards completing the first, and so far only Golden Slam in the history of tennis.

This marked the second of three years that Graf and Navratilova contested the Wimbledon final.

Claudia Kohde-Kilsch withdrew due to a knee injury.

She was replaced in the draw by lucky loser Shaun Stafford.