first-seeded margaret court was the defending champion, and successfully defended her title, defeating helga niessen in the final, 6–2, 6–4 to win the women's singles tennis title at the 1970 french open. this was court's fifth french open title, her third consecutive grand slam title and her eighteenth grand slam overall. court would went on to win the remaining two majors of the year, becoming the first woman to complete the calendar grand slam in the open era.