# 1961 French Championships – Men's singles

Sixth-seeded Manuel Santana defeated Nicola Pietrangeli 4–6, 6–1, 3–6, 6–0, 6–2 in the final to win the men's singles tennis title at the 1961 French Championships. Santana became the first Spaniard to win a Grand Slam tournament singles title.

## Seeds

The seeded players are listed below. Manuel Santana is the champion; others show the round in which they were eliminated.
* Nicola Pietrangeli (final)
* Rod Laver (semifinals)
* Roy Emerson (quarterfinals)
* Jan-Erik Lundqvist (semifinals)
* Pierre Darmon (third round)
* Manuel Santana (champion)
* Ron Holmberg (quarterfinals)
* Robert Wilson (fourth round)
* Robert Mark (second round)
* Jacques Brichant (fourth round)
* Ulf Schmidt (first round)
* Bob Hewitt (fourth round)
* Mario Llamas (fourth round)
* Orlando Sirola (third round)
* Ronald Barnes (fourth round)
* Lew Gerrard (second round)

## Draw
### Key

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

### Finals

| Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final | Final | Final | Final | Final | Final |
| 1 | Nicola Pietrangeli | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Gérard Pilet | 4 | 8 | 3 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Gérard Pilet | 4 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 1 | Nicola Pietrangeli | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 4 | Jan-Erik Lundqvist | 4 | 4 | 4 | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Jan-Erik Lundqvist | 6 | 6 | 6 | | 4 | Jan-Erik Lundqvist | 4 | 4 | 4 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Carlos Fernandes | 4 | 4 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Carlos Fernandes | 4 | 4 | 3 | | | | | | | | | 1 | Nicola Pietrangeli | 6 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 2 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | 6 | Manuel Santana | 4 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 6 |
| 6 | Manuel Santana | 9 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 6 | Manuel Santana | 4 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 6 |
| 3 | Roy Emerson | 7 | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Roy Emerson | 7 | 2 | 2 | | 6 | Manuel Santana | 3 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 2 | Rod Laver | 6 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 0 | | | | | | | |
| 7 | Ron Holmberg | 4 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 2 | Rod Laver | 6 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 0 | | | | | | | |
| 2 | Rod Laver | 6 | 6 | 3 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

### Earlier rounds
#### Section 1

| 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 |
| 1 | Pietrangeli | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Contet | 2 | 3 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | 1 | Pietrangeli | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | Newcombe | 2 | 2 | 4 | | | | | | | |
| | Ulrich | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Newcombe | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | Pietrangeli | 6 | 6 | 6 | 8 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Pilić | 4 | 8 | 3 | 6 |
| 16 | Gerrard | 3 | 6 | 4 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Belkhodja | 6 | 4 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | Belkhodja | 4 | 6 | 1 | 2 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | Pilić | 6 | 1 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | |
| | Pilić | 6 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Gibson | 2 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 2

| 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 |
| 8 | Wilson | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Morea | 4 | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 8 | Wilson | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | Jauffret | 2 | 3 | 3 | | | | | |
| | Mandarino | 7 | 3 | 4 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Jauffret | 5 | 6 | 6 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | 8 | Wilson | 6 | 5 | 1 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | Pilet | 8 | 7 | 6 |
| 9 | Mark | 3 | 6 | 6 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Skonecki | 6 | 3 | 8 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | Skonecki | 2 | 2 | 6 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | Pilet | 6 | 6 | 8 | | | | | |
| | Henry | 6 | 4 | 6 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Pilet | 1 | 6 | 8 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 3

| 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 |
| 4 | Lundqvist | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Grandet | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 4 | Lundqvist | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | Barrett | 3 | 1 | 3 | | | | | | |
| | Gaertner | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Barrett | 2 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | 4 | Lundqvist | 6 | 3 | 8 | 6 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | 13 | Llamas | 4 | 6 | 6 | 3 |
| 13 | Llamas | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Licis | 4 | 2 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 13 | Llamas | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | Buding | 3 | 3 | 3 | | | | | | |
| | Buding | 6 | 6 | 4 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Boutboul | 3 | 3 | 6 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### 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 |
| 5 | Darmon | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Godbout | 2 | 2 | 2 | | | 5 | Darmon | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Pickard | 6 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 6 | | Pickard | 1 | 3 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Ecklebe | 3 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 3 | | | | | | | | 5 | Darmon | 3 | 3 | 2 | | | | | | | |
| | Fernandes | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | Fernandes | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | |
| | Bresson | 4 | 4 | 2 | | | | Fernandes | 7 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Rodríguez | 6 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 2 | | Howe | 5 | 3 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Howe | 4 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Fernandes | 9 | 2 | 6 | 6 |
| 12 | Hewitt | 3 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 12 | Hewitt | 7 | 6 | 2 | 2 |
| | Kuhnke | 6 | 2 | 4 | 3 | | 12 | Hewitt | 3 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Plećević | 1 | 5 | 0 | | | | Mayers | 6 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Mayers | 6 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | 12 | Hewitt | 6 | 3 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | |
| | Otway | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | Mulligan | 3 | 6 | 1 | 2 | | | | | | |
| | Mukerjea | 6 | 0 | 3 | 2 | | | Otway | 5 | 4 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Mulligan | 0 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 6 | | Mulligan | 7 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Gasiorek | 6 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### 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 | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| | Jovanović | 6 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Bungert | 8 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 4 | | Jovanović | 2 | 9 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Stolle | 4 | 5 | 2 | | | | Stolle | 6 | 11 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Molinari | 6 | 7 | 5 | r | | | | | | | | | Stolle | 1 | 3 | 3 | | | | | |
| | Lall | 4 | 10 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | Sangster | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | Sangster | 6 | 12 | 6 | | | | Sangster | 6 | 6 | 0 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Pimentel | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | Pimentel | 3 | 4 | 6 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 11 | Schmidt | 3 | 1 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Sangster | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| | Sanders | 4 | 3 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 6 | Santana | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| | Álvarez | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | Álvarez | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Tacchini | 6 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 6 | | Tacchini | 5 | 8 | 1 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Renavand | 4 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 0 | | | | | | | | Álvarez | 4 | 1 | 3 | | | | | |
| | Garrido | | | | | | | | | | | | 6 | Santana | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | Gulyás | | | | | | | Gulyás | 3 | 1 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Bey | 2 | 6 | 1 | 3 | | 6 | Santana | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Santana | 6 | 1 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 6

| First round | First round | First round | First 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 |
| Swann | 1 | 0 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Phillips-Moore | 6 | 6 | 9 | | Phillips-Moore | 6 | 7 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | Duxin | 4 | 5 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | Phillips-Moore | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | 14 | Sirola | 3 | 3 | 0 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | Ulrich | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | 14 | Sirola | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Phillips-Moore | 2 | 6 | 3 | 2 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | Emerson | 6 | 4 | 6 | 6 |
| | | | | | Coni | 3 | 3 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | Barclay | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | Barclay | 5 | 1 | 0 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | 3 | Emerson | 7 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | Hann | 4 | 4 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | 3 | Emerson | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 7

| 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 |
| | Segal | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Gaudenzi | 2 | 3 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | Segal | 3 | 1 | 3 | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 10 | Brichant | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | |
| | Jalabert | 3 | 1 | 6 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 10 | Brichant | 6 | 6 | 0 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | 10 | Brichant | 6 | 6 | 4 | 3 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | 7 | Holmberg | 2 | 8 | 6 | 6 |
| | Lahcen Chaldi | 6 | 6 | 2 | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Presecki | 3 | 2 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | Lahcen Chaldi | 6 | 1 | 0 | 3 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 7 | Holmberg | 3 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | |
| | Jauffret | 3 | 8 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 7 | Holmberg | 6 | 10 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 8

| 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 |
| | Fletcher | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Grinda | 3 | 2 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Fletcher | 3 | 2 | 5 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 15 | Barnes | 6 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | |
| | Javorský | 4 | 1 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 15 | Barnes | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 15 | Barnes | 3 | 6 | 2 | 3 |
| | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Laver | 6 | 4 | 6 | 6 |
| | Mills | 2 | 3 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Soriano | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Soriano | 2 | 3 | 8 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 2 | Laver | 6 | 6 | 10 | | | | | | |
| | Ali | 2 | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2 | Laver | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |