Martina Hingis defeated Mary Pierce in the final, 6–2, 6–2 to win the women's singles tennis title at the 1997 Australian Open.

Hingis did not lose a set during the tournament.

At the age of 16 years and three months, she remains the youngest woman to win a major singles title in the Open Era, and the youngest since Lottie Dod at the 1887 Wimbledon Championships.

[1] Monica Seles was the reigning champion, but did not compete that year.

Steffi Graf's 45-match major winning streak ended (dating to the 1995 French Open) when she was defeated by Amanda Coetzer in the fourth round.