| Champ: |  Simona Halep |
| Runner: |  Karolína Plíšková |
| Score: | 6–0, 2–1, ret. |
| Draw: | 56 (8 / 5) |
| Seeds: | 16 |
| After Year: | 2021 |
See main article: 2020 Italian Open (tennis).
Simona Halep won the women's singles tennis title at the 2020 Italian Open after the defending champion Karolína Plíšková retired from the final, with the scoreline at 6–0, 2–1. It was her first Italian Open title.
Sofia Kenin became the first top five player and reigning major champion to be defeated by a 'double bagel' (6–0, 6–0) scoreline since Lindsay Davenport defeated Maria Sharapova at the 2005 Indian Wells tournament. Kenin was defeated by Victoria Azarenka in the second round.[1]
The top eight seeds received a bye into the second round.