See main article: 1989 US Open (tennis).
Defending champion Steffi Graf defeated Martina Navratilova in the final, 3–6, 7–5, 6–1 to win the women's singles tennis title at the 1989 US Open. It was her second consecutive US Open title.
This marked the final professional appearance for former world No. 1 and 18-time major champion Chris Evert. She lost to Zina Garrison in the quarterfinals. It was Evert's 54th quarterfinal at a major (in her 56th major played), an Open Era record. She reached the quarterfinals in all 19 US Opens she entered, 17 times reaching the semifinals or better, and winning the title six times.
Future two-time champion Monica Seles made her US Open debut, losing to Evert in the fourth round.
The seeded players are listed below. Steffi Graf is the champion; others show the round in which they were eliminated.
Martina Navratilova (runner-up)
Gabriela Sabatini (semifinalist) Chris Evert (quarterfinalist) Zina Garrison (semifinalist)
Arantxa Sánchez Vicario (quarterfinalist) Pam Shriver (first round) Mary Joe Fernández (first round) Conchita Martínez (fourth round)See main article: 1989 US Open – Women's singles qualifying.