martina navratilova defeated helena suková 6–3, 6–2 in the final to win the women's singles tennis title at the 1986 u.s. open. navratilova became the 1st woman in the open era to win the us open saving match points en route against steffi graf in the semi-final. hana mandlíková was the defending champion, but she lost in the fourth round to wendy turnbull.