| Champ: |  Barbora Krejčíková |
| Runner: |  Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova |
| Score: | 6–1, 2–6, 6–4 |
| Draw: | 128 (16 / 8) |
| Seeds: | 32 |
See main article: 2021 French Open.
Barbora Krejčíková defeated Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the final, 6–1, 2–6, 6–4 to win the women's singles tennis title at the 2021 French Open.[1] It was her first major singles title.[2] Krejčíková saved a match point en route to the title, in the semifinals against Maria Sakkari, making her the first player since Justine Henin in 2005 and the third woman in the Open Era to win the French Open after saving a match point. Krejčíková and Pavlyuchenkova were the combined lowest ranked major finalists (numbers 33 and 32, respectively) since the introduction of the computer rankings began in 1975 (a feat that was surpassed just three months later at the US Open).
Krejčíková became the first Czech woman to win the title since Hana Mandlíková in 1981. She also became the first player to win both the singles and doubles titles at the same major since Serena Williams at the 2016 Wimbledon Championships, and the first to do so at the French Open since Mary Pierce in 2000. Pavlyuchenkova reached her maiden major final after participating in 52 major main draws, breaking the record previously set by Flavia Pennetta in the 2015 US Open.[3]
Iga Świątek was the defending champion, but lost to Sakkari in the quarterfinals. Świątek's loss marked the 14th consecutive year where the reigning French Open champion failed to defend her title, with Henin being the last woman to do so in 2007.[4] It also ensured the sixth consecutive French Open to feature a first-time major champion.[5] Świątek's loss also ensured that this was the first French Open and the third major in the Open Era to feature all first-time major semifinalists,[6] and it was the first major in the Open Era in which six players made their major quarterfinal debuts.[7]
Ashleigh Barty and Naomi Osaka were in contention for the WTA No. 1 singles ranking. Barty retained the top ranking after Osaka withdrew from the second round.[8]
Serena Williams became the oldest woman in the Open Era to reach the fourth round; this was also the three-time former champion's final French Open appearance before retiring from professional tennis the following year.[9] [10] Sakkari and Tamara Zidanšek became the first Greek woman and Slovenian player to reach the singles quarterfinals and semifinals of a major, respectively.[11] [12] Coco Gauff became the youngest player to reach a major quarterfinal since Nicole Vaidišová at the 2006 French Open.[13]
| Category | Krejčíková | Pavlyuchenkova | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st serve % | 58/80 (73%) | 53/80 (66%) | |
| 1st serve points won | 32 of 58 = 55% | 26 of 53 = 49% | |
| 2nd serve points won | 12 of 22 = 55% | 13 of 27 = 48% | |
| Total service points won | 44 of 80 = 55.00% | 39 of 80 = 48.75% | |
| Aces | 2 | 2 | |
| Double faults | 5 | 1 | |
| Winners | 34 | 23 | |
| Unforced errors | 31 | 16 | |
| Net points won | 11 of 15 = 73% | 2 of 6 = 33% | |
| Break points converted | 6 of 14 = 43% | 5 of 12 = 42% | |
| Return points won | 41 of 80 = 51% | 36 of 80 = 45% | |
| Total points won | bgcolor=98FB989 | 85 | 75 |
| Source | |||
The following are the seeded players. Seedings are based on WTA rankings as of 24 May 2021. Rankings and points before are as of 31 May 2021. Because the tournament was moved a week and points of the week of 10 June 2019 includes results only from Nottingham. The defending points from 's-Hertogenbosch is not included towards on dropping points.
As a result of pandemic-related adjustments to the ranking system and changes to the WTA Tour calendar in 2020, players will have the following potential adjustments to their ranking points after the tournament:
Note that this is a different ranking adjustment system than the one being used by the ATP for the men's event.
| Seed | Rank | Player | Points before | 2019 Points | 2020 Points | Points won | Points after | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 |  Ashleigh Barty | 10,175 | 2,000 | - | 70 | 8,245 | Second round retired against  Magda Linette | |
| 2 | 2 |  Naomi Osaka | 7,461 | 130 | - | 70 | 7,401 | Second round withdrew due to mental health issues | |
| 3 | 4 |  Aryna Sabalenka | 6,195 | 70 | 130 | 130 | 6,195 | Third round lost to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova [31] | |
| 4 | 5 |  Sofia Kenin | 5,865 | 240 | 1,300 | 240 | 5,865† | Fourth round lost to Maria Sakkari [17] | |
| 5 | 6 |  Elina Svitolina | 5,835 | 130 | 430 | 130 | 5,835† | Third round lost to Barbora Krejčíková | |
| 6 | 7 |  Bianca Andreescu | 5,325 | 70 | - | 10 | 5,265 | First round lost to Tamara Zidanšek | |
| 7 | 8 | Serena Williams | 4,821 | 130 | 70 | 240 | 4,931 | Fourth round lost to  Elena Rybakina [21] | |
| 8 | 9 | Iga Świątek | 4,435 | 240 | 2,000 | 430 | 4,435† | Quarterfinals lost to Maria Sakkari [17] | |
| 9 | 10 | Karolína Plíšková | 4,345 | 130 | 70 | 70 | 4,285 | Second round lost to Sloane Stephens | |
| 10 | 11 | Belinda Bencic | 4,140 | 130 | - | 70 | 4,080 | Second round lost to Daria Kasatkina | |
| 11 | 12 | Petra Kvitová | 4,115 | 0 | 780 | 70 | 4,115† | Second round withdrew due to an ankle injury | |
| 12 | 13 |  Garbiñe Muguruza | 4,110 | 240 | 130 | 10 | 4,000 | First round lost to Marta Kostyuk | |
| 13 | 14 | Jennifer Brady | 3,830 | 70+110 | 10 | 70+130 | 3,830 | Third round retired against Coco Gauff [24] | |
| 14 | 15 |  Elise Mertens | 3,685 | 130 | 130 | 130 | 3,685 | Third round lost to Maria Sakkari [17] | |
| 15 | 16 | Victoria Azarenka | 3,526 | 70 | 70 | 240 | 3,696 | Fourth round lost to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova [31] | |
| 16 | 17 | Kiki Bertens | 3,220 | 70 | 240 | 10 | 3,220† | First round lost to Polona Hercog | |
| 17 | 18 | Maria Sakkari | 2,830 | 70 | 130 | 780 | 3,480 | Semifinals lost to Barbora Krejčíková | |
| 18 | 19 | Karolína Muchová | 2,816 | 70 | 10 | 130 | 2,876 | Third round lost to Sloane Stephens | |
| 19 | 20 |  Johanna Konta | 2,756 | 780 | 10 | 10 | 1,986 | First round lost to  Sorana Cîrstea | |
| 20 | 21 | Markéta Vondroušová | 2,746 | 1,300 | 10 | 240 | 1,686 | Fourth round lost to Paula Badosa [33] | |
| 21 | 22 | Elena Rybakina | 2,683 | 40 | 70 | 430 | 3,043 | Quarterfinals lost to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova [31] | |
| 22 | 23 | Petra Martić | 2,660 | 430 | 130 | 10 | 2,360 | First round lost to  Camila Giorgi | |
| 23 | 24 | Madison Keys | 2,606 | 430 | 10 | 130 | 2,306 | Third round lost to Victoria Azarenka [15] | |
| 24 | 25 | Coco Gauff | 2,420 | 20 | 70 | 430 | 2,780 | Quarterfinals lost to Barbora Krejčíková | |
| 25 | 26 |  Ons Jabeur | 2,415 | 10 | 240 | 240 | 2,415 | Fourth round lost to Coco Gauff [24] | |
| 26 | 27 | Angelique Kerber | 2,320 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 2,320 | First round lost to Anhelina Kalinina [Q] | |
| Alison Riske | 2,222 | 10+70 | 10 | 0 | 2,152 | Withdrew due to a right knee injury | |||
| 28 | 29 | Jessica Pegula | 2,219 | 10 | 10 | 130 | 2,339 | Third round lost to Sofia Kenin [4] | |
| 29 | 30 | Veronika Kudermetova | 2,160 | 130 | 70 | 70 | 2,100 | Second round lost to Kateřina Siniaková | |
| 30 | 31 |  Anett Kontaveit | 2,145 | 10 | 10 | 130 | 2,265 | Third round lost to Iga Świątek [8] | |
| 31 | 32 | Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova | 2,070 | 10 | 70 | 1,300 | 3,300 | Runner-up, lost to Barbora Krejčíková | |
| 32 | 34 | Ekaterina Alexandrova | 1,940 | 130 | 130 | 70 | 1,940† | Second round lost to Barbora Krejčíková | |
| 33 | 35 | Paula Badosa | 1,870 | (18)§ | 240 | 430 | 2,060 | Quarterfinals lost to Tamara Zidanšek |
†The player's 2019 points will be replaced by (or the player will continue to count) her 2020 points, which will be dropped on 11 October 2021, four months after the end of the 2021 tournament.
§The player did not qualify for the tournament in 2019. Accordingly, points from her 16th best result are deducted instead.
The following players would have been seeded, but withdrew before the tournament began.
The following players were awarded wildcards into the main draw.[14]
See main article: 2021 French Open – Women's singles qualifying.