Iva Majoli defeated Martina Hingis in the final, 6–4, 6–2 to win the women's singles tennis title at the 1997 French Open.

This was the only match Hingis lost at the majors in the 1997 season, preventing her from achieving the Grand Slam.

Hingis was on a 35-match winning streak, dating to the start of the season in Sydney.

Steffi Graf was the two-time defending champion, but lost to Amanda Coetzer in the quarterfinals.

1 and seven-time major champion Venus Williams; she was defeated in the second round by Nathalie Tauziat.