Defending champion Jennifer Capriati defeated Martina Hingis in a rematch of the previous year's final, 4–6, 7–6(9–7), 6–2 to win the women's singles tennis title at the 2002 Australian Open.

2 and two-time major champion Svetlana Kuznetsova, who lost to Iroda Tulyaganova in the second round, and future world No.

4 and US Open champion Samantha Stosur, who lost in the first round to Gréta Arn.

In a repeat of the previous year's final, three-time former champion Hingis won the first set 6–4 having led 5–1 at one stage.

There Hingis held another championship point at 7–6, but Capriati saved it and eventually won the tiebreaker 9–7.