first-seeded margaret court was the defending champion and successfully defended her title, defeating kerry melville in the final, 6–3, 6–1 to win the women's singles tennis title at the 1970 australian open. this was court's ninth australian open title, her second consecutive grand slam title and her seventeenth grand slam overall. court went on to win the remaining three majors of the year, becoming the first woman to win a grand slam in the open era.