This was the first Australian Open to feature a final set tiebreak. When the score in a final set reached 6–6, the first player to reach 10 points and lead by at least 2 points won the set (and the match). Katie Boulter and Ekaterina Makarova became the first players to activate this rule in the main draw, with Boulter emerging victorious.
This was the first major main draw appearance of future world No. 1 and four-time Grand Slam champion Iga Świątek, who lost to Camila Giorgi in the second round. Amanda Anisimova became the first player born in the 21st century to reach the fourth round of a singles major. Ashleigh Barty also became the first Australian to reach the quarterfinals since Jelena Dokic in 2009.
For the first time since 2009 Wimbledon, all of the top eight seeds reached the third round at a women's singles major.[3]