# 1961 Wimbledon Championships – Men's singles

Rod Laver defeated Chuck McKinley in the final, 6–3, 6–1, 6–4 to win the gentlemen's singles tennis title at the 1961 Wimbledon Championships. Neale Fraser was the defending champion, but lost in the fourth round to Bobby Wilson.

## Seeds

    01. Neale Fraser (fourth round)
    02. Rod Laver (champion)
    03. Nicola Pietrangeli (third round)
    04. Roy Emerson (quarterfinals)
    05. Manuel Santana (second round)
    06. Luis Ayala (quarterfinals)
    07. Ramanathan Krishnan (semifinals)
    08. Chuck McKinley (final)
Click on the seed number of a player to go to their draw section.

## Draw
### Key

* Q = Qualifier
* WC = Wild card
* LL = Lucky loser
* Alt = Alternate
* SE = Special exempt
* PR = Protected ranking
* ITF = ITF entry
* JE = Junior exempt
* w/o = Walkover
* r = Retired
* d = Defaulted
* SR = Special ranking

### Finals

| Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final | Final | Final | Final |
| 2 | Rod Laver | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Luis Ayala | 1 | 3 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Luis Ayala | 1 | 3 | 2 | | 2 | Rod Laver | 6 | 8 | 6 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 7 | Ramanathan Krishnan | 2 | 6 | 2 | | | | | |
| 4 | Roy Emerson | 1 | 4 | 4 | | 7 | Ramanathan Krishnan | 2 | 6 | 2 | | | | | |
| 7 | Ramanathan Krishnan | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 7 | Ramanathan Krishnan | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | 2 | Rod Laver | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | 8 | Chuck McKinley | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| | Mike Sangster | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | 8 | Chuck McKinley | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| | Isaías Pimentel | 2 | 2 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Isaías Pimentel | 2 | 2 | 4 | | | Mike Sangster | 4 | 4 | 6 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 8 | Chuck McKinley | 6 | 6 | 8 | | | | | |
| 8 | Chuck McKinley | 6 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 8 | Chuck McKinley | 6 | 6 | 8 | | | | | |
| | Bobby Wilson | 4 | 4 | 6 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | |

### Top half
#### Section 1

| First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| 2 | Rod Laver | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Toomas Leius | 4 | 1 | 1 | | | 2 | R Laver | 8 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Boro Jovanović | 7 | 3 | 8 | | | | P Darmon | 6 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Pierre Darmon | 9 | 6 | 10 | | | | | | | | | | 2 | R Laver | 6 | 6 | 8 | 4 | 6 | | | | | |
| | Wilhelm Bungert | 5 | 8 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | W Bungert | 3 | 1 | 10 | 6 | 3 | | | | | |
| | Giuseppe Merlo | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | | | W Bungert | 10 | 11 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Alan Lane | 3 | 6 | 4 | 4 | | | K Diepraam | 12 | 9 | 0 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Keith Diepraam | 6 | 2 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | R Laver | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| | Jacques Brichant | 6 | 3 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | R Hewitt | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| | Władysław Skonecki | 2 | 6 | 2 | 2 | | | J Brichant | 2 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Alberto Arilla | 6 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 2 | | W Álvarez | 6 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | William Álvarez | 4 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 6 | | | | | | | | | J Brichant | 2 | 3 | 4 | | | | | | | |
| | Ronnie Holmberg | 7 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | R Hewitt | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | |
| | Enrique Morea | 5 | 5 | 3 | | | | R Holmberg | 8 | 6 | 6 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Bob Hewitt | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | R Hewitt | 10 | 8 | 2 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Staffan Stockenberg | 3 | 2 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 2

| First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| 6 | Luis Ayala | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Robin Sanders | 3 | 2 | 2 | | | 6 | L Ayala | 7 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Pieter van Eijsden | 2 | 9 | 4 | | | | J Javorský | 5 | 4 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Jiří Javorský | 6 | 11 | 6 | | | | | | | | | 6 | L Ayala | 6 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | |
| | Mario Llamas | 6 | 9 | 1 | 10 | 6 | | | | | | | | F Froehling | 2 | 5 | 4 | | | | | | | |
| | Ronnie Barnes | 3 | 7 | 6 | 12 | 4 | | M Llamas | 6 | 2 | 0 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Frank Froehling | 6 | 4 | 6 | 6 | | | F Froehling | 1 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | John Barrett | 2 | 6 | 2 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 6 | L Ayala | 9 | 6 | 6 |
| | Bill Bond | 6 | 12 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | W Knight | 7 | 4 | 2 |
| | Ladislav Legenstein | 4 | 10 | 2 | | | | W Bond | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | István Gulyás | 3 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 6 | | I Gulyás | 1 | 1 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Mark Otway | 6 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 4 | | | | | | | | W Bond | 10 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 0 | | | | | |
| | Billy Knight | 7 | 9 | 9 | | | | | | | | | | W Knight | 12 | 5 | 2 | 9 | 6 | | | | | |
| | Thorvald Moe | 5 | 7 | 7 | | | | W Knight | 6 | 8 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Premjit Lall | 15 | 6 | 6 | | | | P Lall | 3 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Julian Coni | 13 | 1 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 3

| First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| 4 | Roy Emerson | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Naresh Kumar | 2 | 1 | 3 | | | 4 | R Emerson | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Crawford Henry | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | C Henry | 2 | 4 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Michael Hann | 6 | 2 | 4 | 4 | | | | | | | | 4 | R Emerson | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | | | | | |
| | John Ward | 2 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 4 | | | | | | | | J Douglas | 3 | 0 | 7 | 4 | | | | | |
| | Gardnar Mulloy | 6 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 6 | | G Mulloy | 2 | 2 | 6 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | John Hillebrand | 0 | 4 | 6 | 1 | | | J Douglas | 6 | 6 | 4 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Jon Douglas | 6 | 6 | 3 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4 | R Emerson | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Q | Gene Scott | 4 | 6 | 4 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | R Taylor | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| | Reg Bennett | 6 | 4 | 6 | 6 | | | R Bennett | 2 | 7 | 6 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Mustapha Belkhodja | 6 | 4 | 11 | 6 | 6 | | M Belkhodja | 6 | 9 | 4 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | Trevor Adamson | 2 | 6 | 13 | 2 | 4 | | | | | | | | M Belkhodja | 10 | 1 | 4 | 3 | | | | | |
| | Rod Mandelstam | 10 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 3 | | | | | | | | R Taylor | 8 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | Warren Woodcock | 12 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 6 | | W Woodcock | 1 | 2 | 6 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Roger Taylor | 6 | 6 | 10 | | | | R Taylor | 6 | 6 | 3 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Orlando Garrido | 4 | 4 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 4

| First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| 7 | Ramanathan Krishnan | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | François Jauffret | 0 | 4 | 1 | | | 7 | R Krishnan | 6 | 6 | 11 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Julian Mayers | 6 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 5 | | M Riessen | 3 | 2 | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Marty Riessen | 3 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | 7 | R Krishnan | 6 | 3 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | |
| | Orlando Sirola | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | O Sirola | 4 | 6 | 3 | 1 | | | | | | |
| | François Godbout | 3 | 4 | 3 | | | | O Sirola | 6 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Ken Fletcher | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | K Fletcher | 4 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Ulf Schmidt | 4 | 4 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 7 | R Krishnan | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| | Dieter Ecklebe | 2 | 2 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | A Palafox | 6 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| | Antonio Palafox | 6 | 6 | 9 | | | | A Palafox | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Alan Mills | 5 | 6 | 4 | 5 | | | O Ishiguro | 2 | 3 | 8 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Osamu Ishiguro | 7 | 4 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | A Palafox | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | |
| | Tony Pickard | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | A Pickard | 3 | 3 | 2 | | | | | | | |
| | Jacques Renavand | 2 | 4 | 4 | | | | A Pickard | 6 | 11 | 3 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Franz Saiko | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | F Saiko | 4 | 9 | 6 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | Gabino Palafox | 4 | 0 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

### Bottom half
#### Section 5

| First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| | Neil Gibson | 3 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Geoffrey Pares | 6 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 8 | | G Pares | 3 | 6 | 3 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Mike Sangster | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | M Sangster | 6 | 4 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Robert Bédard | 3 | 2 | 4 | | | | | | | | | M Sangster | 6 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | |
| | John Newcombe | 8 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 4 | | | | | | | D Ralston | 8 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 4 | | | | |
| | Jan-Erik Lundqvist | 10 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 6 | | J-E Lundqvist | 4 | 2 | 6 | 14 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Patricio Rodríguez | 6 | 1 | 0 | 3 | | | D Ralston | 6 | 6 | 3 | 16 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Dennis Ralston | 3 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | M Sangster | 8 | 8 | 6 |
| | John Lesch | 4 | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | A Segal | 6 | 6 | 4 |
| | Bob Howe | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | R Howe | 4 | 8 | 11 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Esteban Reyes Jr. | 1 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 2 | | A Bey | 6 | 10 | 9 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Adrian Bey | 6 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 6 | | | | | | | A Bey | 3 | 4 | 4 | | | | | | |
| | Sergei Likhachev | 6 | 2 | 3 | 0 | | | | | | | | A Segal | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | |
| | Abe Segal | 1 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | A Segal | 6 | 6 | 12 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Willem Maris | 2 | 0 | 2 | | | 5 | M Santana | 4 | 4 | 10 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Manuel Santana | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 6

| First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| | Bobby Siska | 6 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Nikola Pilić | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | | N Pilić | 7 | 4 | 6 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Franz Hainka | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | F Hainka | 5 | 6 | 3 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Philippe Washer | 0 | 4 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | N Pilić | 6 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 5 | | | | |
| | Gérard Pilet | 1 | 2 | 6 | 4 | | | | | | | | | I Pimentel | 4 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 7 | | | | |
| | Isaías Pimentel | 6 | 6 | 3 | 6 | | | I Pimentel | 6 | 3 | 6 | 11 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Will Coghlan | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | W Coghlan | 4 | 6 | 3 | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Christian Kuhnke | 6 | 4 | 4 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | I Pimentel | 6 | 6 | 12 |
| | Norman Kitovitz | 1 | 2 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | C Crawford | 4 | 2 | 10 |
| | Chris Crawford | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | C Crawford | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Malcolm Fox | 6 | 9 | 6 | | | | M Fox | 2 | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| LL | Frew McMillan | 4 | 7 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | C Crawford | 2 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| Q | José Edison Mandarino | 3 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 3 | | | | | | | 3 | N Pietrangeli | 6 | 3 | 4 | 4 | | | | | |
| | Barry Phillips-Moore | 6 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 6 | | B Phillips-Moore | 3 | 4 | 6 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Akhtar Ali | 4 | 2 | 1 | | | 3 | N Pietrangeli | 6 | 6 | 1 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Nicola Pietrangeli | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 7

| First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| Q | Greg Hughes | 2 | 5 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Jean-Claude Barclay | 6 | 7 | 6 | | | | J-C Barclay | 3 | 4 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | Daniel Contet | 4 | 2 | 3 | | | | D Dell | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Donald Dell | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | D Dell | 8 | 4 | 6 | 7 | | | | | |
| | Warren Jacques | 6 | 6 | 3 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | W Jacques | 6 | 6 | 8 | 9 | | | | | |
| | Jørgen Ulrich | 3 | 2 | 6 | 5 | | | W Jacques | 7 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | Ingemar Ingvarsson | 2 | 4 | 4 | | | | I Buding | 5 | 0 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Ingo Buding | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | W Jacques | 6 | 1 | 5 |
| | Wiesław Gąsiorek | 7 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 8 | C McKinley | 8 | 6 | 7 |
| | Finn-Dag Jagge | 5 | 2 | 4 | | | | W Gąsiorek | 6 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Geoffrey Paish | 5 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 6 | | G Paish | 2 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Geoff Ward | 7 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 3 | | | | | | | | | W Gąsiorek | 3 | 6 | 0 | 2 | | | | | |
| | Bertie Gaertner | 5 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | 8 | C McKinley | 6 | 4 | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | Reino Nyyssönen | 7 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 5 | | A Gaertner | 2 | 1 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Sergio Tacchini | 2 | 2 | 6 | 4 | | 8 | C McKinley | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Chuck McKinley | 6 | 6 | 4 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 8

| First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| | Jack Frost | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Wolfgang Stuck | 4 | 2 | 2 | | | | J Frost | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Bob Mark | 10 | 6 | 2 | 6 | | | R Mark | 4 | 4 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Lew Gerrard | 8 | 3 | 6 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | J Frost | 2 | 4 | 4 | | | | | | | |
| Q | Roy Dixon | 2 | 3 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | R Wilson | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | |
| | Carlos Fernandes | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | C Fernandes | 3 | 6 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Eduardo Soriano | 2 | 6 | 7 | 14 | 3 | | R Wilson | 6 | 8 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Bobby Wilson | 6 | 4 | 5 | 16 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | R Wilson | 1 | 6 | 13 | 9 |
| | Jaidip Mukerjea | 3 | 4 | 6 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | N Fraser | 6 | 0 | 11 | 7 |
| | Fred Stolle | 6 | 6 | 3 | 6 | | | F Stolle | 1 | 4 | 0$^r$ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | Humphrey Truman | 5 | 1 | 1 | | | | M Mulligan | 6 | 6 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Martin Mulligan | 7 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | M Mulligan | 2 | 6 | 2 | 1 | | | | | | |
| Q | Harald Elschenbroich | 2 | 4 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | 1 | N Fraser | 6 | 3 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | |
| | Whitney Reed | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | W Reed | 7 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Rudy Hernando | 3 | 1 | 1 | | | 1 | N Fraser | 5 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1 | Neale Fraser | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |