2021 BWF World Championships – Women's singles

The women's singles tournament of the 2021 BWF World Championships took place from 12 to 19 December 2021 at the Palacio de los Deportes Carolina Marín at Huelva.

Women's singles at the 2021 BWF World Championships
Venue	Palacio de los Deportes Carolina Marín
Location	Huelva, Spain
Dates	12–19 December
Medalists
Akane Yamaguchi   Japan   Tai Tzu-ying   Chinese Taipei   He Bingjiao   China   Zhang Yiman   China

P. V. Sindhu was the defending champion, but she lost to Tai Tzu-Ying in the quarterfinals. This also guaranteed Tai Tzu-Ying's first medal of world championships.

Seeds

See also: 2021 BWF World Championships qualification § Women's singles

The seeding list is based on the World Rankings of 23 November 2021.

1. Tai Tzu-ying (final)
2. Akane Yamaguchi (champion)
3. Nozomi Okuhara (withdrew)
4. Carolina Marín (withdrew)
5. An Se-young (quarter-finals)
6. P. V. Sindhu (quarter-finals)
7. Ratchanok Intanon (quarter-finals)
8. He Bingjiao (semi-finals)

9. Pornpawee Chochuwong (third round)
10. Michelle Li (third round)
11. Busanan Ongbamrungphan (second round)
12. Sayaka Takahashi (third round)
13. Mia Blichfeldt (third round)
14. Wang Zhiyi (third round)
15. Yeo Jia Min (second round)
16. Kim Ga-eun (third round)

Draw

Finals

	Semi-finals							Final
	1	Tai Tzu-ying	21	13	21
	8	He Bingjiao	17	21	14
								1	Tai Tzu-ying	14	11
								2	Akane Yamaguchi	21	21
		Zhang Yiman	19	19
	2	Akane Yamaguchi	21	21

Top half

Section 1

	First Round							Second Round							Third Round							Quarter-finals
								1	Tai T-y	21	21
									E Kosetskaya	10	14
		E Kosetskaya	21	21
		C Azurmendi	11	11
															1	Tai T-y	21	19	21
																K Gilmour	10	21	11
								15	Yeo J M	15	21	15
									K Gilmour	21	8	21
		A Ohori	19	17
		K Gilmour	21	21
																						1	Tai T-y	21	21
																						6	P. V. Sindhu	17	13
								6	P. V. Sindhu	21	21
									M Repiská	7	9
		M Repiská	w	/	o
		R Hartawan
															6	P. V. Sindhu	21	21
															9	P Chochuwong	14	18
								9	P Chochuwong	21	21
									L Tan	13	14
		Chen H-y	16	19
		L Tan	21	21

Section 2

	First Round							Second Round							Third Round							Quarter-finals
								4	C Marín
									Han Y	w	/	o
		Nguyễn T L	16	14
		Han Y	21	21
																Han Y	21	21
															10	M Li	19	19
								10	M Li	21	21
									J D Jakobsen	19	18
		K Polikarpova	13	12
		J D Jakobsen	21	21
																							Han Y	16	18
																						8	He BJ	21	21
								8	He BJ	21	21
									M Batomene	12	15
		M Batomene	17	21	21
		N Perminova	21	9	16
															8	He BJ	21	21
															13	M Blichfeldt	13	10
								13	M Blichfeldt	17	21	22
									N Yiğit	21	13	20
		N Yiğit	21	21
		Kisona S	14	15

Bottom half

Section 3

	First Round							Second Round							Third Round							Quarter-finals
		G M Tunjung
		L Christophersen	w	/	o
									L Christophersen	3
								11	B Ongbamrungphan	1r
																L Christophersen	21	9
															7	R Intanon	23	21
		K Kuuba	11	14
		Yip P Y	21	21
									Yip P Y	8	12
								7	R Intanon	21	21
																						7	R Intanon	21	13	15
																							Zhang YM	13	21	21
		A Demirbağ	10	9
		P Chaiwan	21	21
									P Chaiwan	18	22
								16	Kim G-e	21	24
															16	Kim G-e	16	19
																Zhang YM	21	21
		Zhang YM	21	21
		Cheung N Y	10	13
									Zhang YM	w	/	o
								3	N Okuhara

Section 4

	First Round							Second Round							Third Round							Quarter-finals
		Vũ T T	14	20
		Y Li	21	22
									Y Li	7	17
								14	Wang ZY	21	21
															14	Wang ZY	21	20	19
															5	An S-y	17	22	21
		S de Visch Eijbergen	5	8
		I Wang	21	21
									I Wang	7	15
								5	An S-y	21	21
																						5	An S-y	7	21	10
																						2	A Yamaguchi	21	11	21
		Thet Htar T	15	16
		Pai Y-p	21	21
									Pai Y-p	13	14
								12	S Takahashi	21	21
															12	S Takahashi	15	18
															2	A Yamaguchi	21	21
		L Kjærsfeldt	12	21	21
		Qi XF	21	14	15
									L Kjærsfeldt	13	15
								2	A Yamaguchi	21	21