1981 French Open – Men's singles

Men's singles
1981 French Open
Final
ChampionSweden Björn Borg
Runner-upCzechoslovakia Ivan Lendl
Score6–1, 4–6, 6–2, 3–6, 6–1
Details
Draw128
Seeds16
Events
Singles men women boys girls
Doubles men women mixed boys girls
WC Singles men women quad
WC Doubles men women quad
Legends −45 45+ women
← 1980 · French Open · 1982 →
1981 tennis event results

Three-time defending champion Björn Borg defeated Ivan Lendl in the final, 6–1, 4–6, 6–2, 3–6, 6–1 to win the men's singles tennis title at the 1981 French Open. It was his sixth French Open title and his eleventh and last major title overall. The final was played on June 7, the day after Borg's 25th birthday.

Seeds

The seeded players are listed below. Björn Borg is the champion; others show the round in which they were eliminated.

  1. Sweden Björn Borg (champion)
  2. United States Jimmy Connors (quarterfinals)
  3. United States John McEnroe (quarterfinals)
  4. United States Gene Mayer (third round)
  5. Czechoslovakia Ivan Lendl (final)
  6. Argentina Guillermo Vilas (fourth round)
  7. Argentina José Luis Clerc (semifinals)
  8. United States Harold Solomon (first round)
  9. United States Vitas Gerulaitis (first round)
  10. United States Eliot Teltscher (first round)
  11. France Yannick Noah (quarterfinals)
  12. United States Brian Gottfried (third round)
  13. Australia Peter McNamara (fourth round)
  14. Poland Wojtek Fibak (fourth round)
  15. Hungary Balázs Taróczy (quarterfinals)
  16. United States Eddie Dibbs (third round)

Draw

Key

  • Q = Qualifier
  • WC = Wild card
  • LL = Lucky loser
  • r = Retired

Finals

Quarterfinals Semifinals Final
                     
1 Sweden Björn Borg 6 6 6
15 Hungary Balázs Taróczy 3 3 2
1 Sweden Björn Borg 6 6 7
Paraguay Víctor Pecci Sr. 4 4 5
Paraguay Víctor Pecci Sr. 3 6 6 6
11 France Yannick Noah 6 4 4 4
1 Sweden Björn Borg 6 4 6 3 6
5 Czechoslovakia Ivan Lendl 1 6 2 6 1
5 Czechoslovakia Ivan Lendl 6 6 7
3 United States John McEnroe 4 4 5
5 Czechoslovakia Ivan Lendl 3 6 4 7 6
7 Argentina José Luis Clerc 6 4 6 6 2
7 Argentina José Luis Clerc 4 6 4 7 6
2 United States Jimmy Connors 6 2 6 5 0

Section 1

First round Second round Third round Fourth round
1 Sweden Borg 6 6 6
Spain López-Maeso 2 2 2 1 Sweden Borg 6 7 6
West Germany Popp 3 6 3 6 Q Brazil Motta 1 5 0
Q Brazil Motta 6 3 6 7 1 Sweden Borg 6 6 6
Bolivia Martinez 4 5 2 Q France Torre 2 1 2
Spain Giménez 6 7 6 Spain Giménez 3 4 3
Australia McNamee 1 7 6 0 5 Q France Torre 6 6 6
Q France Torre 6 6 3 6 7 1 Sweden Borg 6 6 6
United States Moor 6 6 6 United States Moor 0 0 1
Sweden Järryd 2 4 2 United States Moor 6 7 6
Uruguay Damiani 6 Uruguay Damiani 3 6 1
West Germany Gehring 2 r United States Moor 6 6 6
Australia Kronk 1 3 1 Romania Năstase 3 2 1
France Proisy 6 6 6 France Proisy 1 2 0
Romania Năstase 6 6 7 Romania Năstase 6 6 6
10 United States Teltscher 2 4 5

Section 2

First round Second round Third round Fourth round
15 Hungary Taróczy 6 6 6
United States Pfister 3 0 1 15 Hungary Taróczy 7 7 7
Czechoslovakia Šmid 6 7 6 Czechoslovakia Šmid 6 5 6
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Franulović 1 6 2 15 Hungary Taróczy 6 5
Brazil Hocevar 2 6 6 6 Q United States Testerman 1 2 r
Colombia Restrepo 6 4 2 3 Brazil Hocevar 4 3 6 6 2
Czechoslovakia Hutka 4 1 6 4 Q United States Testerman 6 6 3 0 6
Q United States Testerman 6 6 4 6 15 Hungary Taróczy 7 6 5 6
United States Taygan 1 6 4 1 France Tulasne 5 3 7 3
United States Giammalva 6 3 6 6 United States Giammalva 6 7 6
Italy Zugarelli 3 1 0 Spain Vizcaíno 4 5 4
Spain Vizcaíno 6 6 6 United States Giammalva 4 0 3
Spain Higueras 3 0 3 France Tulasne 6 6 6
France Tulasne 6 6 6 France Tulasne 6 4 6 6
Italy Panatta 6 7 6 Italy Panatta 4 6 3 0
8 United States Solomon 3 5 2

Section 3

First round Second round Third round Fourth round
4 United States Mayer 6 6 6
France Bedel 1 4 3 4 United States Mayer 6 6 6
South Africa Moore 7 3 4 6 9 South Africa Moore 4 2 1
France Dominguez 5 6 6 3 7 4 United States Mayer 4 1 r
Israel Glickstein 7 6 6 Paraguay Pecci Sr. 6 2
United States Meyer 5 3 0 Israel Glickstein 6 3 5 5
Paraguay Pecci Sr. 6 7 6 Paraguay Pecci Sr. 4 6 7 7
Italy Magnelli 2 5 1 Paraguay Pecci Sr. 6 6 6
Zimbabwe Ismail 4 6 6 6 14 Poland Fibak 2 3 3
Paraguay González 6 3 2 2 Zimbabwe Ismail 2 6 5 6 6
Q Peru Maynetto 2 6 4 France Deblicker 6 3 7 2 4
France Deblicker 6 7 6 Zimbabwe Ismail 6 2 3 2
Netherlands Sanders 2 6 2 4 14 Poland Fibak 4 6 6 6
Spain Luna 6 4 6 6 Spain Luna 6 0 6
Q United States Nichols 2 2 4 14 Poland Fibak 7 6 7
14 Poland Fibak 6 6 6

Section 4

First round Second round Third round Fourth round
11 France Noah 6 6 6
India Krishnan 1 1 4 11 France Noah 7 1 6 6
Chile Gildemeister 6 2 6 6 12 Chile Gildemeister 6 6 4 3
France Freyss 7 6 3 0 10 11 France Noah 6 3 6 6
West Germany Eberhard 1 4 7 3 Sweden Norbäck 0 6 1 4
Sweden Norbäck 6 6 5 6 Sweden Norbäck 7 2 6 6
Argentina Guerrero 6 2 3 4 Australia Frawley 6 6 4 3
Australia Frawley 4 6 6 6 11 France Noah 6 6 5 6
United States Fagel 3 0 0 6 Argentina Vilas 2 3 7 4
United States Waltke 6 6 6 United States Waltke 4 4 7 2
Australia Carter 6 3 4 2 Argentina Cano 6 6 6 6
Argentina Cano 3 6 6 6 Argentina Cano 1 1 0
Australia Case 3 1 2 6 Argentina Vilas 6 6 6
France Portes 6 6 6 France Portes 2 3 0
Italy Bertolucci 2 5 2 6 Argentina Vilas 6 6 6
6 Argentina Vilas 6 7 6

Section 5

First round Second round Third round Fourth round
5 Czechoslovakia Lendl 7 7 6
Australia Fitzgerald 5 6 4 5 Czechoslovakia Lendl 6 3 2 7 6
South Africa Edwards 6 2 3 6 3 Ecuador Gómez 2 6 6 6 4
Ecuador Gómez 4 6 6 1 6 5 Czechoslovakia Lendl 6 6 4 6
Argentina Bengoechea 6 6 3 6 Argentina Bengoechea 2 1 6 3
France Leconte 4 1 6 4 Argentina Bengoechea 6 6 6
United States Wittus 7 3 5 3 United States Mayotte 4 0 4
United States Mayotte 6 6 7 6 5 Czechoslovakia Lendl 6 4 7 7
Austria Feigl 7 5 2 3 13 Australia McNamara 2 6 6 6
United States Fromm 6 7 6 6 United States Fromm 6 2 0 5
United States Martin 4 7 7 6 United States Martin 3 6 6 7
Spain Mir 6 6 6 3 United States Martin 0 2 1
France Naegelen 3 6 0 13 Australia McNamara 6 6 6
France Moretton 6 7 6 France Moretton 3 3 3
France Goven 3 1 7 1 13 Australia McNamara 6 6 6
13 Australia McNamara 6 6 5 6

Section 6

First round Second round Third round Fourth round
9 United States Gerulaitis 6 2 5 5
Ecuador Ycaza 4 6 7 7 Ecuador Ycaza 5 6 1 6 6
PR Argentina Gattiker 4 6 6 United States Arias 7 3 6 1 4
United States Arias 6 7 7 Ecuador Ycaza 6 0 7 6
Australia Johnstone 6 7 6 Sweden Hjertquist 4 6 6 2
United States Stefanki 1 5 0 Australia Johnstone 4 5 6
New Zealand Parun 4 4 4 Sweden Hjertquist 6 7 7
Sweden Hjertquist 6 6 6 Ecuador Ycaza 3 4 4
PR Uruguay Pérez 6 6 6 3 United States McEnroe 6 6 6
Czechoslovakia Kodeš 2 1 4 PR Uruguay Pérez 7 6 2 6
United States Van't Hof 4 6 0 1 Czechoslovakia Hřebec 6 4 6 2
Czechoslovakia Hřebec 6 3 6 6 PR Uruguay Pérez 1 6 0 4
Chile Fillol Sr. 3 6 5 7 6 3 United States McEnroe 6 2 6 6
Italy Barazzutti 6 3 7 5 4 Chile Fillol Sr. 3 0 2
United States Van Patten 2 0 4 3 United States McEnroe 6 6 6
3 United States McEnroe 6 6 6

Section 7

First round Second round Third round Fourth round
7 Argentina Clerc 7 7 6
Switzerland Günthardt 5 5 1 7 Argentina Clerc 6 6 6
Chile Fillol 6 6 3 6 Chile Fillol 4 1 0
Argentina Dalla Fontana 1 3 6 4 7 Argentina Clerc 6 6 6
Sweden Nyström 6 6 3 6 Q Argentina Ganzábal 4 2 1
United States Krulevitz 2 7 6 7 United States Krulevitz 3 7 1 3
Spain Orantes 6 4 2 Q Argentina Ganzábal 6 6 6 6
Q Argentina Ganzábal 7 6 6 7 Argentina Clerc 6 3 7 7
Mexico Ramírez 3 6 2 Brazil Kirmayr 4 6 5 5
Brazil Kirmayr 6 7 6 Brazil Kirmayr 6 6 6
Czechoslovakia Složil 6 3 6 6 Czechoslovakia Složil 4 4 4
Italy Rinaldini 2 6 2 3 Brazil Kirmayr 6 6 6
France Potier 1 7 4 2 12 United States Gottfried 2 4 2
Sweden Simonsson 6 5 6 6 Sweden Simonsson 2 3 6
Argentina Aubone 7 3 0 4 12 United States Gottfried 6 6 7
12 United States Gottfried 6 6 6 6

Section 8

First round Second round Third round Fourth round
16 United States Dibbs 6 6 6
United States Manson 0 1 1 16 United States Dibbs 6 6 4 6
New Zealand Lewis 6 6 4 2 6 New Zealand Lewis 3 2 6 4
Australia Edmondson 4 2 6 6 4 16 United States Dibbs 6 6 4 2 3
France Haillet 6 5 4 6 United States Purcell 3 2 6 6 6
PR Iran Bahrami 4 7 6 7 PR Iran Bahrami 1 1 6 3
United States Purcell 3 4 6 6 6 United States Purcell 6 6 3 6
West Germany Maurer 6 6 1 3 1 United States Purcell 2 4 6
United States McKown 3 3 3 2 United States Connors 6 6 7
France Caujolle 6 6 6 France Caujolle 3 3 7 7 6
South Africa Schneider 4 6 4 2 France Kuchna 6 6 6 5 3
France Kuchna 6 3 6 6 France Caujolle 0 2 0
Spain Urpí 7 4 6 6 2 United States Connors 6 6 6
France Casa 5 6 4 0 Spain Urpí 3 6 4
France Roger-Vasselin 1 5 6 3 2 United States Connors 6 7 6
2 United States Connors 6 7 3 6

External links

  • Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) – 1981 French Open Men's Singles draw
  • 1981 French Open – Men's draws and results at the International Tennis Federation
Preceded by Grand Slam men's singles Succeeded by
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Amateur Era
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Amateur Era
(international)
Open Era