1981 US Open – Men's singles

Men's singles
1981 US Open
Champion	John McEnroe
Runner-up	Björn Borg
Score	4–6, 6–2, 6–4, 6–3

John McEnroe defeated Björn Borg 4–6, 6–2, 6–4, 6–3 in the final to win the Men's Singles tennis title at the 1981 US Open.

Seeds

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

2

Draw

Key

• Q = Qualifier
• WC = Wild Card
• LL = Lucky Loser
• r. = retired

Final Eight

	Quarterfinals									Semifinals									Final
	1	John McEnroe	6	7	6	6
		Ramesh Krishnan	7	6	4	2
										1	John McEnroe	5	6	6	4	6
										15	Vitas Gerulaitis	7	3	2	6	3
	15	Vitas Gerulaitis	6	6	4	6
		Bruce Manson	4	2	6	1
																			1	John McEnroe	4	6	6	6
																			2	Björn Borg	6	2	4	3
	8	Eliot Teltscher	3	1	2
	4	Jimmy Connors	6	6	6
										4	Jimmy Connors	2	5	4
										2	Björn Borg	6	7	6
	9	Roscoe Tanner	6	3	7	6
	2	Björn Borg	7	6	6	7

Section 1

	First round									Second round									Third round									Fourth round
	1	McEnroe	6	6	6	6
		Nunez	7	1	3	2				1	McEnroe	6	6	6
		Bedel	1	4	4						Gullikson	3	1	3
		Gullikson	6	6	6														1	McEnroe	6	6	6
		Du Pré	6	6	4	6														Du Pré	3	2	3
		Delaney	3	3	6	2					Du Pré	6	6	6
		Gullikson	6	6	3	6	1				Hooper	4	2	4
		Hooper	7	2	6	3	6																					1	McEnroe	7	6	6
		Dupasquier	3	2	1																								Curren	5	0	1
		Edmondson	6	6	6						Edmondson	4	3	6	6
		Kohlberg	5	4	4						Roger-Vasselin	6	6	1	4r
		Roger-Vasselin	7	6	6															Edmondson	3	5	2
		Martinez	6	6	4	4	2													Curren	6	7	6
		Lapidus	4	4	6	6	6				Lapidus	6	3	7	1	3
		Curren	7	6	7						Curren	4	6	6	6	6
	14	Fibak	6	4	6

Section 2

	First round									Second round									Third round									Fourth round
	10	Teacher	6	6	7
		Scanlon	3	2	5					10	Teacher	6	6	2	4
		Davis	6	7	3	6					Davis	2	7	6	6
		Bourne	3	5	6	1														Davis	2	6	7	4
		Sadri	7	7	5	4	6													Krishnan	6	7	6	6
		Smith	5	6	7	6	7				Smith	4	3	3
		Krishnan	6	6	6						Krishnan	6	6	6
		Hjertquist	1	1	3																								Krishnan	4	1	7	7
		González	3	2	6	5																						7	Mayer	6	6	6	5
		Krulevitz	6	6	2	7					Krulevitz	4	4	2
		Tulasne	6	3	4	4					Stockton	6	6	6
		Stockton	4	6	6	6														Stockton	4	4	1
		Wittus	5	6	6	1	3												7	Mayer	6	6	6
		Buehning	7	3	4	6	6				Buehning	4	2	3
		Hayes	4	2	2					7	Mayer	6	6	6
	7	Mayer	6	6	6

Section 3

	First round									Second round									Third round									Fourth round
	3	Lendl	6	6	6
		Simonsson	2	2	2					3	Lendl	7	6	7
		Portes	2	3	1						Borowiak	6	1	6
		Borowiak	6	6	6														3	Lendl	6	3	6	6
		Edwards	6	7	6	6														Vines	4	6	2	3
		Fromm	3	6	7	4					Edwards	1	7	1	4
		Vines	6	2	6	4					Vines	6	5	6	6
		Simpson	3	6	2	3	r																					3	Lendl	3	4	6	6	4
		Ball	1	6	2																							15	Gerulaitis	6	6	3	3	6
		Arias	6	7	6						Arias	6	6	3	r
		Tarr	0	1	7	1					Solomon	7	7	3
		Solomon	6	6	6	6														Solomon	3	2	3
		Brown	3	6	6	6	5												15	Gerulaitis	6	6	6
		Cortes	6	4	4	7	7				Cortes	6	0	1
		Moor	6	3	0	6	2			15	Gerulaitis	7	6	6
	15	Gerulaitis	4	6	6	3	6

Section 4

	First round									Second round									Third round									Fourth round
	11	McNamara	7	2	6	6
		Fitzgerald	6	6	3	3				11	McNamara	6	6	5	6
		Fishbach	2	4	2						Fleming	4	2	7	3
		Fleming	6	6	6														11	McNamara	6	3	4	2
		Meyer	6	6	7															Manson	4	6	6	6
		Mitton	3	4	6						Meyer	0	2	6	6	2
		Manson	6	6	6						Manson	6	6	3	4	6
		Saltz	0	0	2																								Manson	6	7	6
		Năstase	6	3	4	6	3																					5	Clerc	3	6	3
		Purcell	3	6	6	3	6				Purcell	6	6	7
		Smith	4	4	2						Glickstein	4	4	5
		Glickstein	6	6	6															Purcell	3	6	6	4	3
		Alexander	4	6	6	4													5	Clerc	6	0	0	6	6
		Wilkison	6	2	7	6					Wilkison	4	7	4	7	6
		Drewett	4	3	3					5	Clerc	6	5	6	5	7
	5	Clerc	6	6	6

Section 5

	First round									Second round									Third round									Fourth round
	8	Teltscher	6	6	6
		Amaya	2	2	4					8	Teltscher	6	6	6
		Saviano	2	7	1	4					Austin	2	2	2
		Austin	6	6	6	6													8	Teltscher	6	6	6
		Moretton	6	3	4	7	6													Amritraj	2	4	0
		Fernandez	3	6	6	6	3				Moretton	5	3	4
		Amritraj	6	6	6						Amritraj	7	6	6
		Davis	3	4	2																							8	Teltscher	6	6	5	1	6
		Cowan	5	4	2																							16	Gottfried	4	0	7	6	3
		McCain	7	6	6						McCain	3	6	6	1	2
		Mayotte	6	6	6	6					Mayotte	6	3	4	6	6
		Denton	3	4	7	3														Mayotte	2	3	7	6
		Walts	7	6	6	2	6												16	Gottfried	6	6	6	7
		Fagel	6	4	7	6	1				Walts	6	4	2
		Van Patten	4	4	1					16	Gottfried	7	6	6
	16	Gottfried	6	6	6

Section 6

	First round									Second round									Third round									Fourth round
	12	Kriek	6	6	7
		De Palmer	2	3	5					12	Kriek	4	6	6	6
		Gurfein	2	2	7	2					Doyle	6	4	3	0
		Doyle	6	6	5	6													12	Kriek	6	2	1	4
		Freeman	6	5	6															Cahill	4	6	6	6
		Pattison	7	7	7						Pattison	4	1	6
		Cahill	6	6	6						Cahill	6	6	7
		Meister	3	3	4																								Cahill	3	3	1
		Winitsky	6	3	2																							4	Connors	6	6	6
		Gómez	7	6	6						Gómez	6	6	6
		Lewis	7	7	6						Lewis	4	3	3
		Pfister	5	6	2															Gómez	7	3	1	6	6
		Rebolledo	1	2	2														4	Connors	6	6	6	4	7
		Ostoja	6	6	6						Ostoja	6	4	3
		Lloyd	0	0	2					4	Connors	7	6	6
	4	Connors	6	6	6

Section 7

	First round									Second round									Third round									Fourth round
	6	Vilas	6	6	6	6
		Gitlin	3	7	0	4				6	Vilas	6	6	6
		Ramírez	6	6	6						Ramírez	1	3	2
		Ismail	3	2	4														6	Vilas	7	4	7	6
		Stadler	6	7	5	6														Panatta	6	6	5	4
		Docherty	4	5	7	2					Stadler	5	3	1
		Panatta	7	4	6	6					Panatta	7	6	6
		Taygan	6	6	3	2																						6	Vilas	4	2	6
		Nichols	4	4	7	4																						9	Tanner	6	6	7
		James	6	6	5	6					James	4	7	5	6	0
		Segal	1	4	4						Mayotte	6	5	7	4	6
		Mayotte	6	6	6															Mayotte	6	1	2
		Case	2	6	2														9	Tanner	7	6	6
		Delaney	6	7	6						Delaney	6	1	4	1
		Edwards	3	3	4					9	Tanner	4	6	6	6
	9	Tanner	6	6	6

Section 8

	First round									Second round									Third round									Fourth round
	13	Noah	6	6	5	4	6
		Andrews	3	4	7	6	2			13	Noah	6	6	4	7
		Benson	6	0	6	1	4				Van Dillen	4	2	6	5
		Van Dillen	4	6	4	6	6												13	Noah	6	6	6
		Waltke	7	6	1	4	7													Waltke	3	4	4
		Stewart	6	4	6	6	5				Waltke	6	6	7
		Giammalva	2	6	1	5					Fritz	3	3	6
		Fritz	6	2	6	7																						13	Noah	7	4	3	3
		Carter	7	2	7	6																						2	Borg	6	6	6	6
		Fillol, Sr.	6	6	6	2					Carter	4	6	1	6	6
		Giammalva, Jr.	6	4	6	1	6				Giammalva, Jr.	6	2	6	4	0
		Günthardt	4	6	3	6	1													Carter	2	2	2
		Dent	7	5	4	6	3												2	Borg	6	6	6
		Stefanki	6	7	6	3	6				Stefanki	4	4	4
		Günthardt	2	2	0					2	Borg	6	6	6
	2	Borg	6	6	6

External links

• Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) – 1981 US Open Men's Singles draw