Defending champion Victoria Azarenka defeated Serena Williams in the final, 7–6(8–6), 2–6, 6–3 to win the singles tennis title at the 2013 WTA Qatar Open.

All of the top three seeds (Azarenka, Williams and Maria Sharapova) were in contention for the world No.

1 player in the history of the WTA, after she beat Petra Kvitová in the quarterfinals.

1 for a further 186 weeks until 12 September 2016, when she was replaced by Angelique Kerber, tying Steffi Graf's record for longest consecutive spell at No.

[1] The top eight seeds receive a bye into the second round.