# 1978 French Open – Men's singles

Björn Borg defeated defending champion Guillermo Vilas in the final, 6–1, 6–1, 6–3 to win the men's singles tennis title at the 1978 French Open. It was his third French Open title and fifth major title overall. Borg did not lose a set during the tournament, and dropped only 32 games in total, which remains a three way tie for a tournament record.
This tournament marked the first major appearance of future world No. 1, three-time champion, and eight-time major champion Ivan Lendl.

## Seeds

The seeded players are listed below. Björn Borg is the champion; others show the round in which they were eliminated.
* Björn Borg (champion)
* Guillermo Vilas (final)
* Brian Gottfried (third round)
* Eddie Dibbs (quarterfinals)
* Manuel Orantes (quarterfinals)
* Raúl Ramírez (quarterfinals)
* Corrado Barazzutti (semifinals)
* Harold Solomon (third round)
* Roscoe Tanner (fourth round)
* Dick Stockton (semifinals)
* Wojtek Fibak (fourth round)
* Phil Dent (first round)
* Tim Gullikson (fourth round)
* Buster C. Mottram (third round)
* John Alexander (fourth round)
* Stan Smith (third round)

## Draw
### Key

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

### Finals

| Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final | Final | Final | Final |
| 1 | Björn Borg | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Raúl Ramírez | 3 | 3 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Raúl Ramírez | 3 | 3 | 0 | | | 1 | Björn Borg | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | 7 | Corrado Barazzutti | 0 | 1 | 0 | | | | | |
| 4 | Eddie Dibbs | 2 | 6$^9$ | 1 | | | 7 | Corrado Barazzutti | 0 | 1 | 0 | | | | | |
| 7 | Corrado Barazzutti | 6 | 7$^{11}$ | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 7 | Corrado Barazzutti | 6 | 7$^{11}$ | 6 | | | | | | | | 1 | Björn Borg | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Guillermo Vilas | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 5 | Manuel Orantes | 5 | 1 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Guillermo Vilas | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 10 | Dick Stockton | 7 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 10 | Dick Stockton | 7 | 6 | 6 | | | 10 | Dick Stockton | 3 | 3 | 2 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | 2 | Guillermo Vilas | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | Hans Gildemeister | 4 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 2 | Guillermo Vilas | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| 2 | Guillermo Vilas | 6 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |

### 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 | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| 1 | B Borg | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | É Deblicker | 1 | 1 | 1 | | | 1 | B Borg | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | R Fagel | 6 | 7 | 6 | | | | R Fagel | 0 | 1 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | P Kronk | 1 | 6 | 1 | | | | | | | | 1 | B Borg | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | G Hardie | 5 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | P Bertolucci | 0 | 2 | 2 | | | | | |
| | J Moreno | 7 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 1 | | G Hardie | 2 | 3 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | B Andersson | 4 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 4 | | P Bertolucci | 6 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | P Bertolucci | 6 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | B Borg | 6 | 6 | 7$^7$ |
| | N Saviano | 3 | 2 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | 9 | R Tanner | 2 | 4 | 6$^5$ |
| | H Günthardt | 6 | 6 | 7 | | | | H Günthardt | 3 | 3 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | K Meiler | 4 | 3 | 6 | 1 | | | C Dibley | 6 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | C Dibley | 6 | 6 | 2 | 6 | | | | | | | | C Dibley | 5 | 6 | 4 | | | | | |
| | J-L Haillet | 3 | 2 | 4 | | | | | | | | 9 | R Tanner | 7 | 7 | 6 | | | | | |
| | P Portes | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | P Portes | 3 | 0 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | J Fassbender | 2 | 1 | r | | | 9 | R Tanner | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 9 | R Tanner | 6 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### 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 | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| 14 | B Mottram | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | J Soler | 2 | 3 | 2 | | 14 | B Mottram | 2 | 7 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | C Roger-Vasselin | 7 | 7 | 6 | | | C Roger-Vasselin | 6 | 5 | 2 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | S Krulevitz | 5 | 6 | 0 | | | | | | | | 14 | B Mottram | 3 | 0 | 0 | | | | | |
| | B Hewitt | 5 | 5 | 4 | | | | | | | | | V Pecci Sr. | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | I Molina | 7 | 7 | 6 | | | I Molina | 2 | 3 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | V Pecci Sr. | 6 | 7 | 6 | | | V Pecci Sr. | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | B Lloyd | 4 | 5 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | V Pecci Sr. | 2 | 2 | 6$^7$ |
| | J Higueras | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | 6 | R Ramírez | 6 | 6 | 7$^9$ |
| | D Bedel | 0 | 2 | 3 | | | J Higueras | 2 | 4 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | P Cornejo | 5 | 4 | 6 | 3 | | B Teacher | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | B Teacher | 7 | 6 | 3 | 6 | | | | | | | | B Teacher | 2 | 4 | 4 | | | | | |
| | P Pearson | 2 | 6 | 4 | | | | | | | | 6 | R Ramírez | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | A Zugarelli | 6 | 7 | 6 | | | A Zugarelli | 1 | 3 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | B Fritz | 2 | 0 | 4 | | 6 | R Ramírez | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | R Ramírez | 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 | 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 | E Dibbs | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | A Muñoz | 1 | 3 | 1 | | | 4 | E Dibbs | 7 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | B Giltinan | 6 | 6 | 7 | | | | B Giltinan | 6 | 1 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | C Richey | 2 | 2 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | 4 | E Dibbs | 7 | 6 | 3 | 6 | | | | | |
| Q | W Zirngibl | 3 | 3 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | P McNamee | 6 | 1 | 6 | 1 | | | | | |
| | T Rocavert | 6 | 6 | 7 | | | | T Rocavert | 2 | 3 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | P McNamee | 6 | 6 | 4 | 7 | | | P McNamee | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | H Kary | 3 | 2 | 6 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4 | E Dibbs | 6 | 7 | 6 |
| | P DuPré | 0 | 5 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 11 | W Fibak | 3 | 5 | 1 |
| | J Lloyd | 6 | 7 | 6 | | | | J Lloyd | 2 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | G Mayer | 6 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 2r | | U Pinner | 6 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | U Pinner | 4 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 3 | | | | | | | | | J Lloyd | 1 | 6 | 1 | 1 | | | | | |
| Q | K Tanabe | 2 | 4 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | 11 | W Fibak | 6 | 4 | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | V Winitsky | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | V Winitsky | 1 | 2 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | I El Shafei | 4 | 6 | 4 | 4 | | 11 | W Fibak | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 11 | W Fibak | 6 | 2 | 6 | 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 | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| 16 | S Smith | 3 | 6 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | J James | 6 | 3 | 3 | 5 | | 16 | S Smith | 7 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | C Dowdeswell | 6 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 6 | | C Dowdeswell | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | T Gullikson | 3 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 3 | | | | | | | | 16 | S Smith | 6 | 2 | 4 | | | | | | |
| | M Edmondson | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | | | | | | | | | LL | S Birner | 7 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | |
| LL | S Birner | 2 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | LL | S Birner | 7 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | E van Dillen | 2 | 5 | 1 | | | | Z Franulović | 6 | 5 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Z Franulović | 6 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | LL | S Birner | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| | K Warwick | 1 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 7 | C Barazzutti | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| | P Dominguez | 6 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 6 | | P Dominguez | 7 | 5 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | R Fisher | 3 | 5 | 3 | | | | H Pfister | 6 | 7 | 5 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | H Pfister | 6 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | P Dominguez | 7 | 4 | 5 | 2 | | | | | |
| | G Ocleppo | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | 7 | C Barazzutti | 5 | 6 | 7 | 6 | | | | | |
| Q | S Menon | 3 | 2 | 4 | | | | G Ocleppo | 6 | 2 | 3 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | J Yuill | 6 | 6 | 3 | 1 | r | 7 | C Barazzutti | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 7 | C Barazzutti | 3 | 7 | 6 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

### 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 | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| 5 | M Orantes | 3 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | T Okker | 6 | 3 | 2 | 2 | | 5 | M Orantes | 7 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | A Pierola | 6 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 6 | | A Pierola | 5 | 1 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | B Mitton | 3 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 0 | | | | | | | 5 | M Orantes | 7 | 7 | 6 | | | | | |
| | R Lewis | 3 | 5 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | T Šmid | 5 | 5 | 2 | | | | | |
| | R Ycaza | 6 | 7 | 6 | | | | R Ycaza | 2 | 7 | 2 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | T Šmid | 7 | 4 | | | | | T Šmid | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | V Amaya | 6 | 6 | r | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 5 | M Orantes | 6 | 7$^7$ | 7$^7$ |
| | C Freyss | 5 | 4 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 13 | T Gullikson | 3 | 6$^4$ | 6$^3$ |
| | J Borowiak | 7 | 6 | 6 | | | | J Borowiak | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | J Granát | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | | | A Panatta | 7 | 1 | 4 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | A Panatta | 3 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | J Borowiak | 2 | 6 | 2 | | | | | |
| | G Goven | 4 | 7 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | 13 | T Gullikson | 6 | 7 | 6 | | | | | |
| | V Zednik | 6 | 5 | 5 | 2 | | | G Goven | 6 | 3 | 3 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | C Letcher | 3 | 2 | 2 | | | 13 | T Gullikson | 2 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 13 | T Gullikson | 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 | 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 |
| 10 | D Stockton | 4 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | R Drysdale | 6 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 10 | D Stockton | 6 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | D Crealy | 3 | 1 | 6 | 3 | | Q | J Marks | 1 | 0 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | J Marks | 6 | 6 | 4 | 6 | | | | | | | | | 10 | D Stockton | 4 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 6 | | | | | |
| | C Lewis | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | B Taróczy | 6 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 4 | | | | | |
| | R Frawley | 4 | 2 | 3 | | | | C Lewis | 1 | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | D Naegelen | 0 | 3 | 0 | | | | B Taróczy | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | B Taróczy | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 10 | D Stockton | 7 | 6 | 6 |
| | C Kirmayr | 2 | 4 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Q | R Gehring | 5 | 1 | 3 |
| | T Moor | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | T Moor | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | R Gehring | 6 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 6 | Q | R Gehring | 4 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | M Fishbach | 3 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 3 | | | | | | | | Q | R Gehring | 6 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| Q | D Carter | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | 3 | B Gottfried | 3 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 2 | | | | | |
| | B Phillips-Moore | 1 | 2 | 1 | | | Q | D Carter | 4 | 2 | 6 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | B Scanlon | 2 | 2 | 0 | | | 3 | B Gottfried | 6 | 6 | 3 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | B Gottfried | 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 | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| 8 | H Solomon | 6 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | J Feaver | 2 | 5 | 2 | | | 8 | H Solomon | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | B Prajoux | 7 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 6 | | B Prajoux | 6 | 3 | 7 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | L Sanders | 5 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 2 | | | | | | | | 8 | H Solomon | 6 | 5 | 0 | 4 | | | | | | | |
| Q | P Složil | 6 | 4 | 6 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | H Gildemeister | 3 | 7 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | |
| | L Álvarez | 7 | 6 | 3 | 6 | | | L Álvarez | 6 | 6 | 4 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | H Gildemeister | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | H Gildemeister | 4 | 7 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | J Vanier | 1 | 3 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | H Gildemeister | 7 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 6 |
| | P Proisy | 6 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 15 | J Alexander | 5 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 3 |
| | B Bertram | 3 | 3 | 5 | | | | P Proisy | 1 | 7 | 2 | 6 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | R Cano | 3 | 6 | 6 | 7 | | | R Cano | 6 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | N Špear | 6 | 4 | 3 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | R Cano | 6 | 2 | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| Q | K Eberhard | 6 | 2 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | 15 | J Alexander | 7 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | |
| | P Elter | 4 | 6 | 6 | 2 | | Q | K Eberhard | 6 | 4 | 7 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | J-F Caujolle | 1 | 4 | 3 | | | 15 | J Alexander | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 15 | J Alexander | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### 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 | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| 12 | P Dent | 4 | 1 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | A Ashe | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | A Ashe | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | J L Clerc | 6 | 6 | 6 | | Q | J L Clerc | 2 | 4 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | I Lendl | 3 | 0 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | A Ashe | 4 | 6 | 7 | 6 | | | | | |
| | J Kodeš | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | J Kodeš | 6 | 3 | 6 | 4 | | | | | |
| | B Fairlie | 2 | 0 | 1 | | | J Kodeš | 3 | 6 | 7 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | H Gauvain | 1 | 6 | 3 | 2 | | N Pilić | 6 | 3 | 5 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | N Pilić | 6 | 3 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | A Ashe | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| | F Jauffret | 7 | 3 | 3 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | G Vilas | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| | G Moretton | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | G Moretton | 0 | 3 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Y Noah | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | Y Noah | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | A Fillol | 2 | 2 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | Y Noah | 2 | 6 | 1 | 1 | | | | | |
| | P Hutka | 6 | 0 | 1 | | | | | | | | | 2 | G Vilas | 6 | 4 | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | B Martin | 7 | 6 | 6 | | | B Martin | 2 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | O Parun | 0 | 4 | 0 | | 2 | G Vilas | 6 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2 | G Vilas | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |