Ding Ning was the defending champion but lost in the semifinals to Li Xiaoxia. Ding Ning had won the last two World Tennis Championships, 2011 and 2012. Li went on to win the title by defeating Liu Shiwen 11–8, 4–11, 11–7, 12–10, 6–11, 13–11 in the final.

Ding Ning is a former Chinese table tennis player. She was the winner of women's singles in the 2011 World Table Tennis Championships.