# 1981 US Open – Men's singles

Two-time defending champion John McEnroe defeated Björn Borg in a rematch of the previous year's final, 4–6, 6–2, 6–4, 6–3 to win the men's singles tennis title at the 1981 US Open. It was his third US Open singles title and fourth major singles title overall. It was Borg's fourth runner-up finish at the US Open, his career-best finish at the event. The final would mark the last major appearance of eleven-time major champion Borg, due to his later retirement from the sport. He left the venue before the trophy ceremony, emotionally distraught.

## Seeds

The seeded players are listed below. John McEnroe is the champion; others show the round in which they were eliminated.
* John McEnroe (champion)
* Björn Borg (finalist)
* Ivan Lendl (fourth round)
* Jimmy Connors (semifinalist)
* José Luis Clerc (fourth round)
* Guillermo Vilas (fourth round)
* Gene Mayer (fourth round)
* Eliot Teltscher (quarterfinalist)
* Roscoe Tanner (quarterfinalist)
* Brian Teacher (second round)
* Peter McNamara (third round)
* Johan Kriek (third round)
* Yannick Noah (fourth round)
* Wojtek Fibak (first round)
* Vitas Gerulaitis (semifinalist)
* Brian Gottfried (fourth round)

## Draw
### Key

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

### Final eight

| Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final | Final | Final | Final | Final |
| 1 | John McEnroe | 6$^{10}$ | 7$^7$ | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Ramesh Krishnan | 7$^{12}$ | 6$^4$ | 4 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Ramesh Krishnan | 7$^{12}$ | 6$^4$ | 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 | 15 | Vitas Gerulaitis | 7 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 3 | | | | | | |
| | Bruce Manson | 4 | 2 | 6 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 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 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Björn Borg | 6 | 2 | 4 | 3 |
| 4 | Jimmy Connors | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Jimmy Connors | 6 | 6 | 6 | | 4 | Jimmy Connors | 2 | 5 | 4 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 2 | Björn Borg | 6 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | |
| 9 | Roscoe Tanner | 6$^4$ | 3 | 7$^7$ | 6$^7$ | 2 | Björn Borg | 6 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | |
| 2 | Björn Borg | 7$^7$ | 6 | 6$^4$ | 7$^9$ | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

### 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 | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| 1 | McEnroe | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Núñez | 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 | | | | | |
| | DuPré | 6 | 6 | 4 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | DuPré | 3 | 2 | 3 | | | | | |
| | Delaney | 3 | 3 | 6 | 2 | | | DuPré | 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 | 4$^r$ | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 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 | 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 | 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 | 6 | 7 | 7 |
| | González | 3 | 2 | 6 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 7 | Mayer | 6 | 1 | 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 | 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 | Fourth 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 | 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 |
| 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 |
| 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 | 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 |
| 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$^{13}$ |
| | Nichols | 4 | 4 | 7 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 9 | Tanner | 6 | 6 | 7$^{15}$ |
| | 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 | 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 | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth 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$^7$ | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| | Carter | 7 | 2 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Borg | 6$^2$ | 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 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |