# 1961 U.S. National Championships – Men's singles

Roy Emerson defeated Rod Laver 7–5, 6–3, 6–2 in the final to win the men's singles tennis title at the 1961 U.S. National Championships.

## Seeds

The seeded players are listed below. Roy Emerson is the champion; others show the round in which they were eliminated.
* Rod Laver (finalist)
* Chuck McKinley (third round)
* Roy Emerson (champion)
* Mike Sangster (semifinals)
* Bob Mark (fourth round)
* Frank Froehling (third round)
* Jon Douglas (quarterfinals)
* Ron Holmberg (quarterfinals)

## 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 |
| 1 | Rod Laver | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Donald Dell | 4 | 9 | 3 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Donald Dell | 4 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 1 | Rod Laver | 13 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 4 | Mike Sangster | 11 | 5 | 4 | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Mike Sangster | 6 | 7 | 6 | | 4 | Mike Sangster | 11 | 5 | 4 | | | | | | | |
| 7 | Jon Douglas | 4 | 5 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 7 | Jon Douglas | 4 | 5 | 1 | | | | | | | | | 1 | Rod Laver | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | Roy Emerson | 7 | 6 | 6 |
| | Whitney Reed | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | Roy Emerson | 7 | 6 | 6 |
| | Rafael Osuna | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Rafael Osuna | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | Rafael Osuna | 3 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 7 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 3 | Roy Emerson | 6 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 9 | | | | | |
| 3 | Roy Emerson | 6 | 6 | 7 | | 3 | Roy Emerson | 6 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 9 | | | | | |
| 8 | Ron Holmberg | 4 | 2 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

### Earlier rounds
#### Section 1

| 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 | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| | | | | | | 1 | Laver | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | Steele III | 3 | 1 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | Laver | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | Lloyd | 1 | 2 | 2 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | Tong | 1 | 3 | 7 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | Lloyd | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | Laver | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Zuleta | 6 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Crawford | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Schunck | 1 | 5 | 1 | | | | Zuleta | 5 | 6 | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Bey | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | Bey | 7 | 3 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Morgan | 3 | 1 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | Bey | 1 | 2 | 3 | | | | | |
| Barker | 3 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | Crawford | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| Wright | 6 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 3 | | Barker | 6 | 2 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Crawford | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | Crawford | 8 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Mangan | 2 | 1 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 2

| 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 | Froehling | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Hobbs | 2 | 2 | 4 | | 6 | Froehling | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Pasarell | 6 | 6 | 3 | 6 | | Pasarell | 3 | 4 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Susman | 2 | 2 | 6 | 4 | | | | | | | | 6 | Froehling | 9 | 8 | 1 | | | | | | |
| | Dell | 7 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | Dell | 11 | 10 | 6 | | | | | | |
| | Carpenter | 5 | 0 | 4 | | | Dell | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Dailey | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | Dailey | 3 | 2 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Harrison | 4 | 2 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Dell | 7 | 6 | 6 | 8 |
| | Ashe | 6 | 6 | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Sharpe | 9 | 3 | 2 | 6 |
| | Karabasz | 2 | 2 | 7 | | | Ashe | 3 | 5 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Godbout | 6 | 7 | 1 | 8 | | Godbout | 6 | 7 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Sherman | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | Godbout | 6 | 4 | 6 | 2 | | | | | |
| | Sharpe | 3 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | Sharpe | 8 | 6 | 3 | 6 | | | | | |
| | Kamakana | 6 | 3 | 4 | 4 | | Sharpe | 4 | 4 | 9 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Potthast | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | Potthast | 6 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Thompson | 2 | 1 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 3

| 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 |
| 4 | Sangster | 6 | 3 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Perry | 2 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 4 | Sangster | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Higgins | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | Higgins | 3 | 1 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Hedrick | 2 | 1 | 3 | | | | | | | | | 4 | Sangster | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | |
| | Lambert | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | Lambert | 3 | 9 | 2 | 4 | | | | | | |
| | Quinn | 2 | 8 | 2 | 2 | | Lambert | 6 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | McManus | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | McManus | 3 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Davis | 1 | 0 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4 | Sangster | 21 | 8 | 6 | 6 |
| | Bond | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Palafox | 19 | 10 | 3 | 4 |
| | Powless | 0 | 0 | 2 | | | Bond | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | White | 6 | 6 | 7 | | | White | 3 | 3 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Fauquier | 3 | 2 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | Bond | 3 | 6 | 3 | 4 | | | | | | |
| | Palafox | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | Palafox | 6 | 4 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | |
| | Werksman | 2 | 2 | 2 | | | Palafox | 15 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Nagler | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | Nagler | 13 | 1 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Vanderbilt | 2 | 3 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 4

| 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 | Fourth round |
| 7 | Douglas | 3 | 6 | 10 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Richardson | 6 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 7 | Douglas | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Senkowski | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | Senkowski | 3 | 9 | 3 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Musalem | 3 | 0 | 2 | | | | | | | | 7 | Douglas | 6 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 6 | | | | | | |
| | Seixas | 7 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | Seixas | 4 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 4 | | | | | | |
| | Lynch | 5 | 4 | 0 | | | Seixas | 6 | 10 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Siska | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | Siska | 4 | 8 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Lynch | 0 | 2 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 7 | Douglas | 3 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| | Henry | 9 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Henry | 6 | 3 | 5 | 6 |
| | Moss | 7 | 4 | 4 | | | Henry | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Sullivan | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | Sullivan | 4 | 3 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | San Hueza | 1 | 2 | 1 | | | | | | | | | Henry | 5 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | |
| | Biggs | 6 | 6 | 3 | 6 | | | | | | | | Bedard | 7 | 13 | 1 | 4 | 2 | | | | | | |
| | Botts | 3 | 4 | 6 | 2 | | Biggs | 7 | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Bedard | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | Bedard | 9 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Ralph | 3 | 1 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### 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 | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| 2 | McKinley | 7 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Stoesser | 5 | 2 | 2 | | | 2 | McKinley | 7 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Beck | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | Beck | 5 | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Johnson | 2 | 0 | 4 | | | | | | | | | 2 | McKinley | 3 | 7 | 6 | 3 | | | | | | |
| | Reed | 6 | 8 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | Reed | 6 | 9 | 3 | 6 | | | | | | |
| | Howe | 4 | 6 | 5 | | | | Reed | 7 | 7 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Hernandez | 4 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 6 | | Hernandez | 5 | 5 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Reed | 6 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Reed | 8 | 6 | 4 | 6 |
| | Olvera | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Fox | 6 | 3 | 6 | 3 |
| | Herceg | 0 | 0 | 0 | | | | Olvera | 2 | 8 | 11 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Fox | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | Fox | 6 | 10 | 9 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Harris | 2 | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | Fox | 6 | 6 | 8 | 3 | 6 | | | | | |
| | Lane | 6 | 9 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | Lane | 2 | 0 | 10 | 6 | 1 | | | | | |
| | Clark | 2 | 7 | 3 | | | | Lane | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Hill | 5 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 6 | | Hill | 2 | 1 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Spengler | 7 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### 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 | 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 |
| 5 | Mark | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Fitzgibbon | 2 | 1 | 0 | | | 5 | Mark | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Palafox | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | Palafox | 2 | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Buck | 4 | 1 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | 5 | Mark | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | |
| | Taylor | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | Fisher | 4 | 4 | 2 | | | | | | | |
| | Belkin | 4 | 2 | 2 | | | | Taylor | 6 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Fisher | 3 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | Fisher | 4 | 6 | 8 | 3 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Richardson | 6 | 2 | 3 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 5 | Mark | 3 | 4 | 6 |
| | Shaffer | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Osuna | 6 | 6 | 8 |
| | Gasman | 1 | 2 | 2 | | | | Shaffer | 10 | 2 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Osuna | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | Osuna | 12 | 6 | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Barizon | 2 | 3 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | Osuna | 11 | 6 | 6 | 17 | 6 | | | | | |
| | Scott | 11 | 6 | 3 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | Scott | 13 | 4 | 8 | 15 | 0 | | | | | |
| | Driscole | 9 | 3 | 6 | 3 | | | Scott | 4 | 6 | 6 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Sokol | 7 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 8 | | Sokol | 6 | 3 | 2 | 2 | r | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Rubell | 9 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 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 | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| 3 | Emerson | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Rubinoff | 2 | 1 | 0 | | 3 | Emerson | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Brown | 6 | 7 | 6 | | | Brown | 1 | 0 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Goldman | 3 | 5 | 1 | | | | | | | | 3 | Emerson | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | Lenoir | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | Buchholz | 3 | 3 | 1 | | | | | |
| | Carpenter | 0 | 3 | 1 | | | Lenoir | 6 | 2 | 3 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Buchholz | 16 | 5 | 6 | 11 | | Buchholz | 1 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Hoehn | 14 | 7 | 1 | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | Emerson | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| | Hoffman Jr | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Hoffman Jr | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| | Greer | 0 | 2 | 3 | | | Hoffman Jr | 10 | 4 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Fontana | 3 | 7 | 8 | 6 | | Fontana | 8 | 6 | 3 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Sorlien | 6 | 5 | 6 | 4 | | | | | | | | Hoffman Jr | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | Earnhart | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | Davis | 3 | 2 | 1 | | | | | |
| | Dickenson | 3 | 2 | 0 | | | Earnhart | 6 | 2 | 0 | r | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Davis | 8 | 6 | 9 | | | Davis | 4 | 6 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Sylvia | 6 | 4 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 8

| 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 | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| 8 | Holmberg | 6 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Green | 4 | 4 | 5 | | 8 | Holmberg | 7 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Farrin | 8 | 7 | 4 | 6 | | Farrin | 5 | 1 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Hammill | 6 | 5 | 6 | 1 | | | | | | | 8 | Holmberg | 7 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | |
| | Riessen | 6 | 8 | 6 | | | | | | | | | Riessen | 5 | 4 | 2 | | | | | | |
| | Newman | 4 | 6 | 0 | | | Riessen | 6 | 8 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Snyder | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | Snyder | 0 | 6 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Sweeney | 4 | 2 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | 8 | Holmberg | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Frost | 2 | 9 | 4 | 1 |
| | | | | | | | Graebner | 5 | 6 | 3 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | Hoogs | 7 | 1 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | Hoogs | 1 | 4 | 2 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | Frost | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | Frost | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | Hetherington | 1 | 2 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |