Serena Williams defeated the two-time defending champion, her sister Venus Williams, in a rematch of the previous year's final, 6–4, 6–3 to win the women's singles tennis title at the 2002 US Open. It was her second US Open singles title, her fourth major singles title overall, the third component of her first "Serena Slam" (a non-calendar year Grand Slam and career Grand Slam), and her second consecutive major title won without losing a set.
This marked the final major appearance for four-time major champion and former world No. 1 Arantxa Sánchez Vicario, who lost to Marion Bartoli in the first round. It was also the final US Open appearance of two-time champion Monica Seles, who lost to Venus Williams in the quarterfinals. It was also the first major appearance for future world No. 1 and three-time major finalist Dinara Safina, who lost in the second round to Serena Williams.
Serena Williams (champion) Venus Williams (final) Jennifer Capriati (quarterfinals) Lindsay Davenport (semifinals).svg/1280px-Flag_of_Australia_(converted).svg.png){kind=small}
Jelena Dokić (second round) Monica Seles (quarterfinals).svg/1280px-Flag_of_Belgium_(civil).svg.png){kind=small}
Kim Clijsters (fourth round) Justine Henin (fourth round).svg/1280px-Flag_of_Switzerland_(Pantone).svg.png){kind=small}
Martina Hingis (fourth round)
Amélie Mauresmo (semifinals)
Daniela Hantuchová (quarterfinals)
Elena Dementieva (second round)
Silvia Farina Elia (fourth round) Chanda Rubin (fourth round) Anastasia Myskina (third round)
Magdalena Maleeva (third round)
Anna Smashnova (second round)
Ai Sugiyama (second round)
Anne Kremer (first round)
Dája Bedáňová (fourth round) Lisa Raymond (third round) Tatiana Panova (third round) Patty Schnyder (third round)
Iva Majoli (third round)
Arantxa Sánchez Vicario (first round) Nathalie Dechy (third round)
Tamarine Tanasugarn (second round)
Eleni Daniilidou (first round)
Barbara Schett (second round) Meghann Shaughnessy (third round) Alexandra Stevenson (first round)
Paola Suárez (second round) Anabel Medina Garrigues → replaced by Saori Obata Sandrine Testud → replaced by Adriana Gerši
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