1981 Wimbledon Championships – Men's singles

Men's singles

1981 Wimbledon Championships

Final

Champion

John McEnroe

Runner-up

Björn Borg

Score

4–6, 7–6^(7–1), 7–6^(7–4), 6–4

Details

Draw

128 (16 Q / 8 WC )

Seeds

Events

Singles	men	women		boys	girls
Doubles	men	women	mixed	boys	girls

← 1980 ·

Wimbledon Championships

· 1982 →

1981 tennis event results

John McEnroe defeated the five-time defending champion Björn Borg in a rematch of the previous year's final, 4–6, 7–6^(7–1), 7–6^(7–4), 6–4, to win the gentlemen's singles tennis title at the 1981 Wimbledon Championships. It was his first Wimbledon singles title and third major singles title overall. Borg was attempting to equal William Renshaw's record of six consecutive Wimbledon titles and Roy Emerson's all-time record of 12 major titles.^[1]

During this tournament, McEnroe famously shouted "You cannot be serious!" to the chair umpire in response to a serve being called "out". The disagreement took place on 22 June, during his first round match against Tom Gullikson.^[2]

Seeds

01.

Björn Borg (final)

02.

John McEnroe (champion)

03.

Jimmy Connors (semifinals)

04.

Ivan Lendl (first round)

05.

Gene Mayer (withdrew before the tournament began)

06.

Brian Teacher (second round)

07.

Brian Gottfried (second round)

08.

Roscoe Tanner (second round)

09.

José Luis Clerc (third round)

10.

Guillermo Vilas (first round)

11.

Víctor Pecci (first round)

12.

Peter McNamara (quarterfinals)

13.

Yannick Noah (first round)

14.

Wojciech Fibak (fourth round)

15.

Balázs Taróczy (third round)

16.

Vitas Gerulaitis (fourth round)

Click on the seed number of a player to go to their draw section.

Gene Mayer withdrew due to injury. He was replaced in the draw by lucky loser Mike Estep.

Qualifying

Draw

Key

Finals

Quarterfinals							Semifinals							Final

1	Björn Borg	7⁷	6	6

12	Peter McNamara	6²	2	3
							1	Björn Borg	0	4	6	6	6

							3	Jimmy Connors	6	6	3	0	4
3	Jimmy Connors	2	5	6	6	6

	Vijay Amritraj	6	7	4	3	2
														1	Björn Borg	6	6¹	6⁴	4

														2	John McEnroe	4	7⁷	7⁷	6
	Rod Frawley	4	7⁷	7⁷	6

	Tim Mayotte	6	6⁵	6⁴	3
								Rod Frawley	6²	4	5

							2	John McEnroe	7⁷	6	7
	Johan Kriek	1	5	1

2	John McEnroe	6	7	6

Top half

Section 1

First round							Second round						Third round							Fourth round

1	B Borg	7⁷	6	6
	P Rennert	6²	3	1			1	B Borg	6	6	6
Q	D Collings	4	3	3				M Purcell	4	1	3
	M Purcell	6	6	6									1	B Borg	6	7	6
	F Taygan	7	6	6										R Gehring	4	5	0
	N Saviano	5	1	2				F Taygan	5	1	6
LL	U Marten	6	2	7	0			R Gehring	7	6	7
	R Gehring	7	6	6	6															1	B Borg	7⁷	7	7⁸
	V Amaya	6	7	6	7															16	V Gerulaitis	6⁴	5	6⁶
	P Feigl	4	6	7	6			V Amaya	6	6	6
	C Mottram	6	6	4	6			C Mottram	3	4	2
WC	R Drysdale	1	4	6	3									V Amaya	6	4	6	3	5
Q	J Bailey	7	6	3	6	4							16	V Gerulaitis	4	6	3	6	7
	K Curren	6	4	6	7	6		K Curren	3	7	3	3
Q	G Holroyd	3	4	6			16	V Gerulaitis	6	6	6	6
16	V Gerulaitis	6	6	7

Section 2

First round						Second round							Third round						Fourth round

12	P McNamara	6	6	2	7
	H Günthardt	1	2	6	5	12	P McNamara	6	6	6
	J Delaney	5	3	7	3		S Stewart	4	0	1
	S Stewart	7	6	6	6								12	P McNamara	6	6	7
	Á Giménez	6	7	6										A Pattison	1	0	5
Q	J Windahl	3	5	2			Á Giménez	6	6	7	1	4
	S Giammalva	3	7	3	6		A Pattison	4	7	6	6	6
	A Pattison	6	6	6	7														12	P McNamara	7	6	7
	Tim Gullikson	6	6	6																J Borowiak	6	0	6
	G Rinaldini	1	2	3			Tim Gullikson	3	7	7	6
	P Fleming	7	6	2	7		P Fleming	6	6	6	3
	S Docherty	6	2	6	6									Tim Gullikson	3	6	6	3
Q	E van Dillen	2	4	6	2									J Borowiak	6	7	4	6
	J Borowiak	6	6	4	6		J Borowiak	6	7	6
	K Walts	3	3	2		7	B Gottfried	4	6	4
7	B Gottfried	6	6	6

Section 3

First round							Second round						Third round							Fourth round

3	J Connors	6	6	6
	R Stockton	1	2	4			3	J Connors	7	7	6
	C Lewis	6	7	0	6	6		C Lewis	6	6	3
Q	C Dunk	7	6	6	4	4							3	J Connors	6	6	6
	T Šmid	5	3	6	2									A Giammalva	4	4	0
	P DuPré	7	6	3	6			P DuPré	3	4	6	3
	A Giammalva	6	7	6				A Giammalva	6	6	1	6
LL	S Davis	2	6	2																3	J Connors	6	6	6
Q	C Wittus	6	6	6																14	W Fibak	3	2	4
	E Edwards	4	4	4			Q	C Wittus	3	0	4
	B Drewett	7	4	6	6			B Drewett	6	6	6
	M Hocevar	6	6	4	3									B Drewett	6	1	6	6	4
Q	M Davis	7	5	2	7	6							14	W Fibak	7	6	3	3	6
	S Glickstein	5	7	6	5	4	Q	M Davis	4	4	2
	M Doyle	4	7	4	5		14	W Fibak	6	6	6
14	W Fibak	6	6	6	7

Section 4

First round							Second round							Third round						Fourth round

9	JL Clerc	3	6	2	6	9
LL	Á Fillol	6	3	6	4	7	9	JL Clerc	4	6	7	6
WC	J Lloyd	6	3	4	6	6	WC	J Lloyd	6	3	6	4
	P Dent	4	6	6	3	4								9	JL Clerc	6	4	1	6
	P Portes	7	6	2	6										P Kronk	2	6	6	7
Q	W Pascoe	5	7	6	7		Q	W Pascoe	5	3	4
	P Kronk	6	6	3	6			P Kronk	7	6	6
	W Martin	2	3	6	3																P Kronk	3	3	2
	R Van't Hof	6	6	6																	V Amritraj	6	6	6
	K Eberhard	4	4	4				R Van't Hof	3	4	2
	T Okker	5	7	4	6			T Wilkison	6	6	6
	T Wilkison	7	5	6	7										T Wilkison	3	2	6	4
	V Amritraj	6	6	7											V Amritraj	6	6	3	6
WC	J Kodeš	0	1	5				V Amritraj	6	2	2	6	6
	R Stadler	6	0	3	3		6	B Teacher	4	6	6	2	1
6	B Teacher	4	6	6	6

Bottom half

Section 5

First round						Second round						Third round						Fourth round

8	R Tanner	6	6	6
	B Manson	1	4	4		8	R Tanner	4	4	6	2
	C Kirmayr	6	6	6	6		C Kirmayr	6	6	3	6
WC	M Cox	3	7	4	4								C Kirmayr	6	3	3
	L Stefanki	1	6	3									R Frawley	7	6	6
Q	C Letcher	6	7	6		Q	C Letcher	3	1	3
	R Frawley	4	6	6	6		R Frawley	6	6	6
	T Tulasne	6	2	3	0														R Frawley	6	6	7
	J Austin	7	2	2	2														J Fitzgerald	4	3	6
Q	M Wilander	6	6	6	6	Q	M Wilander	4	6	6	6
WC	J Alexander	4	6	4	2	LL	H Leconte	6	4	2	2
LL	H Leconte	6	2	6	6							Q	M Wilander	0	6	2	2
	J Fitzgerald	5	7	6	6								J Fitzgerald	6	4	6	6
Q	S McCain	7	6	2	3		J Fitzgerald	6	6	6
	W Scanlon	7	6	6			W Scanlon	1	2	2
11	V Pecci	6	0	0

Section 6

First round							Second round						Third round							Fourth round

10	G Vilas	4	1	6	6	3
	M Edmondson	6	6	1	4	6		M Edmondson	4	3	7	5
WC	R Lewis	5	6	4	4			F Buehning	6	6	5	7
	F Buehning	7	4	6	6									F Buehning	4	6	6	7	1
	S Krulevitz	6	6	4	4	3								A Mayer	6	2	7	5	6
	H Simonsson	4	2	6	6	6		H Simonsson	2	1	6
	I Năstase	4	6	6	4	4		A Mayer	6	6	7
	A Mayer	6	4	4	6	6															A Mayer	3	4	6
WC	A Jarrett	3	7	3	6																T Mayotte	6	6	7
	J Sadri	6	6	6	7			J Sadri	7	6	6	6
	C Roger-Vasselin	6	6	7				C Roger-Vasselin	6	7	3	4
	J López-Maeso	4	4	6										J Sadri	6	3	5
	T Mayotte	6	6	6										T Mayotte	7	6	7
	B Mitton	3	4	2				T Mayotte	4	6	7	6
Q	C Fancutt	4	6	6	1	6	Q	C Fancutt	6	4	6	3
4	I Lendl	6	3	4	6	3

Section 7

First round							Second round						Third round						Fourth round

LL	M Estep	0	3	7	3
	J Kriek	6	6	6	6			J Kriek	6	6	6
Q	S Menon	4	0	6	4		LL	J Nyström	2	4	4
LL	J Nyström	6	6	3	6									J Kriek	7	3	6	7
	R Simpson	7	6	7										R Simpson	6	6	2	5
LL	S Denton	6	3	6				R Simpson	6	6	3	6
Q	G Moretton	4	6	6	6		Q	G Moretton	4	4	6	3
	J Fillol	6	3	2	3															J Kriek	3	6	7	6
	P Složil	3	4	2																F González	6	3	6	1
	P McNamee	6	6	6				P McNamee	6	6	6
LL	C Johnstone	6	6	4	4	6	LL	C Johnstone	2	1	2
Q	C Miller	4	1	6	6	3								P McNamee	4	2	2
	F González	6	7	6										F González	6	6	6
	C Freyss	0	5	2				F González	6	6	7	6
	E Fromm	6	6	6				E Fromm	3	7	5	3
13	Y Noah	4	4	3

Section 8

First round							Second round						Third round					Fourth round

15	B Taróczy	7	6	6
	A Järryd	6	4	3			15	B Taróczy	7	6	7
	R Hightower	2	2	4				R Meyer	6	3	6
	R Meyer	6	6	6									15	B Taróczy	3	2	3
	H Ismail	3	1	3										S Smith	6	6	6
	S Smith	6	6	6				S Smith	6	7	7
	R Fagel	1	2	1				R Case	3	6	6
	R Case	6	6	6															S Smith	5	6	1	2
	D Carter	3	7	6	1	3												2	J McEnroe	7	3	6	6
	R Lutz	6	6	4	6	6		R Lutz	6	7	6
	F Maynetto	6	2	1			WC	J Feaver	3	5	1
WC	J Feaver	7	6	6										R Lutz	4	2	0
	R Moore	4	5	2									2	J McEnroe	6	6	6
	R Ramírez	6	7	6				R Ramírez	3	7⁸	3	6⁶
	To Gullikson	6⁵	5	3			2	J McEnroe	6	6⁶	6	7⁸
2	J McEnroe	7⁷	7	6

References

^ Barrett, John (2014). Wimbledon: The Official History (4th ed.). Vision Sports Publishing. ISBN 9-781909-534230.
^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "John McEnroe's epic Wimbledon meltdown: 'You cannot be serious!' | ESPN Archives". YouTube.

External links

Source for the draw at Wimbledon.com
"Wimbledon 1981 – Singles Draw". atpworldtour.com. ATP World Tour. Retrieved 1 December 2017.
1981 Wimbledon Championships – Men's draws and results at the International Tennis Federation

Preceded by

1981 French Open

Grand Slams
Men's Singles

Succeeded by

1981 US Open

Wimbledon men's singles champions

Amateur Era

Open Era

v t e Wimbledon men's singles events
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Open Era	1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 (COVID-19 pandemic) 2021 2022 2023

Wimbledon men's singles events

Pre Open Era