1981 French Open – Men's singles

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.

Men's singles
1981 French Open
Champion	Björn Borg
Runner-up	Ivan Lendl
Score	6–1, 4–6, 6–2, 3–6, 6–1
Draw	128
Seeds	16

Main article: 1981 French Open

Seeds

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

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

Draw

Key

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

Finals

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

Section 1

	First round									Second round									Third round									Fourth round
	1	Borg	6	6	6
		López-Maeso	2	2	2					1	Borg	6	7	6
		Popp	3	6	3	6				Q	Motta	1	5	0
	Q	Motta	6	3	6	7													1	Borg	6	6	6
		Martinez	4	5	2														Q	Torre	2	1	2
		Giménez	6	7	6						Giménez	3	4	3
		McNamee	1	7	6	0	5			Q	Torre	6	6	6
	Q	Torre	6	6	3	6	7																					1	Borg	6	6	6
		Moor	6	6	6																								Moor	0	0	1
		Järryd	2	4	2						Moor	6	7	6
		Damiani	6								Damiani	3	6	1
		Gehring	2	r																Moor	6	6	6
		Kronk	1	3	1															Năstase	3	2	1
		Proisy	6	6	6						Proisy	1	2	0
		Năstase	6	6	7						Năstase	6	6	6
	10	Teltscher	2	4	5

Section 2

	First round									Second round									Third round									Fourth round
	15	Taróczy	6	6	6
		Pfister	3	0	1					15	Taróczy	7	7	7
		Šmid	6	7	6						Šmid	6	5	6
		Franulović	1	6	2														15	Taróczy	6	5
		Hocevar	2	6	6	6													Q	Testerman	1	2	r
		Restrepo	6	4	2	3					Hocevar	4	3	6	6	2
		Hutka	4	1	6	4				Q	Testerman	6	6	3	0	6
	Q	Testerman	6	6	4	6																						15	Taróczy	7	6	5	6
		Taygan	1	6	4	1																							Tulasne	5	3	7	3
		Giammalva	6	3	6	6					Giammalva	6	7	6
		Zugarelli	3	1	0						Vizcaíno	4	5	4
		Vizcaíno	6	6	6															Giammalva	4	0	3
		Higueras	3	0	3															Tulasne	6	6	6
		Tulasne	6	6	6						Tulasne	6	4	6	6
		Panatta	6	7	6						Panatta	4	6	3	0
	8	Solomon	3	5	2

Section 3

	First round									Second round									Third round									Fourth round
	4	Mayer	6	6	6
		Bedel	1	4	3					4	Mayer	6	6	6
		Moore	7	3	4	6	9				Moore	4	2	1
		Dominguez	5	6	6	3	7												4	Mayer	4	1	r
		Glickstein	7	6	6															Pecci Sr.	6	2
		Meyer	5	3	0						Glickstein	6	3	5	5
		Pecci Sr.	6	7	6						Pecci Sr.	4	6	7	7
		Magnelli	2	5	1																								Pecci Sr.	6	6	6
		Ismail	4	6	6	6																						14	Fibak	2	3	3
		González	6	3	2	2					Ismail	2	6	5	6	6
	Q	Maynetto	2	6	4						Deblicker	6	3	7	2	4
		Deblicker	6	7	6															Ismail	6	2	3	2
		Sanders	2	6	2	4													14	Fibak	4	6	6	6
		Luna	6	4	6	6					Luna	6	0	6
	Q	Nichols	2	2	4					14	Fibak	7	6	7
	14	Fibak	6	6	6

Section 4

	First round									Second round									Third round									Fourth round
	11	Noah	6	6	6
		Krishnan	1	1	4					11	Noah	7	1	6	6
		Gildemeister	6	2	6	6	12				Gildemeister	6	6	4	3
		Freyss	7	6	3	0	10												11	Noah	6	3	6	6
		Eberhard	1	4	7	3														Norbäck	0	6	1	4
		Norbäck	6	6	5	6					Norbäck	7	2	6	6
		Guerrero	6	2	3	4					Frawley	6	6	4	3
		Frawley	4	6	6	6																						11	Noah	6	6	5	6
		Fagel	3	0	0																							6	Vilas	2	3	7	4
		Waltke	6	6	6						Waltke	4	4	7	2
		Carter	6	3	4	2					Cano	6	6	6	6
		Cano	3	6	6	6														Cano	1	1	0
		Case	3	1	2														6	Vilas	6	6	6
		Portes	6	6	6						Portes	2	3	0
		Bertolucci	2	5	2					6	Vilas	6	6	6
	6	Vilas	6	7	6

Section 5

	First round									Second round									Third round									Fourth round
	5	Lendl	7	7	6
		Fitzgerald	5	6	4					5	Lendl	6	3	2	7	6
		Edwards	6	2	3	6	3				Gómez	2	6	6	6	4
		Gómez	4	6	6	1	6												5	Lendl	6	6	4	6
		Bengoechea	6	6	3	6														Bengoechea	2	1	6	3
		Leconte	4	1	6	4					Bengoechea	6	6	6
		Wittus	7	3	5	3					Mayotte	4	0	4
		Mayotte	6	6	7	6																						5	Lendl	6	4	7	7
		Feigl	7	5	2	3																						13	McNamara	2	6	6	6
		Fromm	6	7	6	6					Fromm	6	2	0	5
		Martin	4	7	7	6					Martin	3	6	6	7
		Mir	6	6	6	3														Martin	0	2	1
		Naegelen	3	6	0														13	McNamara	6	6	6
		Moretton	6	7	6						Moretton	3	3	3
		Goven	3	1	7	1				13	McNamara	6	6	6
	13	McNamara	6	6	5	6

Section 6

	First round									Second round									Third round									Fourth round
	9	Gerulaitis	6	2	5	5
		Ycaza	4	6	7	7					Ycaza	5	6	1	6	6
	PR	Gattiker	4	6	6						Arias	7	3	6	1	4
		Arias	6	7	7															Ycaza	6	0	7	6
		Johnstone	6	7	6															Hjertquist	4	6	6	2
		Stefanki	1	5	0						Johnstone	4	5	6
		Parun	4	4	4						Hjertquist	6	7	7
		Hjertquist	6	6	6																								Ycaza	3	4	4
	PR	Pérez	6	6	6																							3	McEnroe	6	6	6
		Kodeš	2	1	4					PR	Pérez	7	6	2	6
		Van't Hof	4	6	0	1					Hřebec	6	4	6	2
		Hřebec	6	3	6	6													PR	Pérez	1	6	0	4
		Fillol Sr.	3	6	5	7	6												3	McEnroe	6	2	6	6
		Barazzutti	6	3	7	5	4				Fillol Sr.	3	0	2
		Van Patten	2	0	4					3	McEnroe	6	6	6
	3	McEnroe	6	6	6

Section 7

	First round									Second round									Third round									Fourth round
	7	Clerc	7	7	6
		Günthardt	5	5	1					7	Clerc	6	6	6
		Fillol	6	6	3	6					Fillol	4	1	0
		Dalla Fontana	1	3	6	4													7	Clerc	6	6	6
		Nyström	6	6	3	6													Q	Ganzábal	4	2	1
		Krulevitz	2	7	6	7					Krulevitz	3	7	1	3
		Orantes	6	4	2					Q	Ganzábal	6	6	6	6
	Q	Ganzábal	7	6	6																							7	Clerc	6	3	7	7
		Ramírez	3	6	2																								Kirmayr	4	6	5	5
		Kirmayr	6	7	6						Kirmayr	6	6	6
		Složil	6	3	6	6					Složil	4	4	4
		Rinaldini	2	6	2	3														Kirmayr	6	6	6
		Potier	1	7	4	2													12	Gottfried	2	4	2
		Simonsson	6	5	6	6					Simonsson	2	3	6
		Aubone	7	3	0	4				12	Gottfried	6	6	7
	12	Gottfried	6	6	6	6

Section 8

	First round									Second round									Third round									Fourth round
	16	Dibbs	6	6	6
		Manson	0	1	1					16	Dibbs	6	6	4	6
		Lewis	6	6	4	2	6				Lewis	3	2	6	4
		Edmondson	4	2	6	6	4												16	Dibbs	6	6	4	2	3
		Haillet	6	5	4	6														Purcell	3	2	6	6	6
	PR	Bahrami	4	7	6	7				PR	Bahrami	1	1	6	3
		Purcell	3	4	6	6	6				Purcell	6	6	3	6
		Maurer	6	6	1	3	1																						Purcell	2	4	6
		McKown	3	3	3																							2	Connors	6	6	7
		Caujolle	6	6	6						Caujolle	3	3	7	7	6
		Schneider	4	6	4	2					Kuchna	6	6	6	5	3
		Kuchna	6	3	6	6														Caujolle	0	2	0
		Urpí	7	4	6	6													2	Connors	6	6	6
		Casa	5	6	4	0					Urpí	3	6	4
		Roger-Vasselin	1	5	6	3				2	Connors	6	7	6
	2	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