# 1981 French Open – Women's singles

Hana Mandlíková defeated Sylvia Hanika in the final, 6–2, 6–4 to win the women's singles tennis title at the 1981 French Open. It was her second major singles title.
Chris Evert was the two-time defending champion, but lost in the semifinals to Mandlíková. It was her first defeat at the event since 1973, and the first time in six tournament appearances that she failed to reach the final.

## Seeds

The seeded players are listed below. Hana Mandlíková is the champion; others show the round in which they were eliminated.
* Chris Evert (semifinals)
* Martina Navratilova (quarterfinals)
* Andrea Jaeger (semifinals)
* Hana Mandlíková (champion)
* Virginia Ruzici (quarterfinals)
* Sylvia Hanika (finalist)
* Mima Jaušovec (quarterfinals)
* Dianne Fromholtz (third round)
* Kathy Jordan (third round)
* Bettina Bunge (fourth round)
* Anne Smith (fourth round)
* Regina Maršíková (fourth round)
* Wendy White (second round)
* Ivanna Madruga (third round)
* Leslie Allen (fourth round)
* Virginia Wade (fourth round)

## Draw
### Key

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

### Finals

| Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| 1 | Chris Evert | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Virginia Ruzici | 4 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Virginia Ruzici | 4 | 4 | | 1 | Chris Evert | 5 | 4 | | | | | |
| | | | | | 4 | Hana Mandlíková | 7 | 6 | | | | | |
| 4 | Hana Mandlíková | 6 | 6 | | 4 | Hana Mandlíková | 7 | 6 | | | | | |
| | Kathy Rinaldi | 1 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Kathy Rinaldi | 1 | 3 | | | | | | | 4 | Hana Mandlíková | 6 | 6 |
| | | | | | | | | | | 6 | Sylvia Hanika | 2 | 4 |
| 7 | Mima Jaušovec | 6 | 2 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | 6 | Sylvia Hanika | 2 | 4 |
| 3 | Andrea Jaeger | 4 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Andrea Jaeger | 4 | 6 | 6 | 3 | Andrea Jaeger | 6 | 1 | 4 | | | | |
| | | | | | 6 | Sylvia Hanika | 4 | 6 | 6 | | | | |
| 6 | Sylvia Hanika | 6 | 6 | | 6 | Sylvia Hanika | 4 | 6 | 6 | | | | |
| 2 | Martina Navratilova | 2 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | |

### Earlier rounds
#### Section 1

| First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| 1 | Evert | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Kohde-Kilsch | 3 | 2 | | 1 | Evert | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Casabianca | 4 | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | 1 | Evert | 6 | 6 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | Pfaff | 3 | 1 | | | | |
| | | | | | | Pfaff | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | |
| | Margolin | 7 | 4 | 6 | | Margolin | 4 | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| | Gulley | 5 | 6 | 4 | | | | | | | | | 1 | Evert | 6 | 6 |
| | Jordan | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | 16 | Wade | 3 | 0 |
| | Barker | 3 | 0 | | | Jordan | 3 | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Kuczyńska | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | Kuczyńska | 1 | 3 | | | | |
| | Fairbank | 6 | 6 | | | | | | 16 | Wade | 6 | 6 | | | | |
| | Ekblom | 4 | 4 | | | Fairbank | 5 | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 16 | Wade | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 2

| 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 |
| 13 | White | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Nagelsen | 6 | 4 | | 13 | White | 6 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Teeguarden | 7 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | Teeguarden | 4 | 6 | 6 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | Casale | 6 | 2 | 2 | | | | |
| | | | | | | Casale | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Delhees | 6 | 6 | | | Delhees | 3 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Jolissaint | 0 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | Teeguarden | 3 | 3 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 5 | Ruzici | 6 | 6 |
| | | | | | | Harrington | 6 | 5 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Smith | 4 | 6 | 7 | | Smith | 4 | 7 | 3 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Stöve | 6 | 4 | 5 | | | | | | | Harrington | 1 | 7 | 0 | | | | |
| | Schutte | 7 | 1 | 10 | | | | | | 5 | Ruzici | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | |
| | Thibault | 5 | 6 | 8 | | Schutte | 3 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 5 | Ruzici | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 3

| 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 |
| 4 | Mandlíková | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Romanov | 2 | 1 | | 4 | Mandlíková | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Casals | 2 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 4 | Mandlíková | 4 | 6 | 6 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | Vásquez | 6 | 0 | 4 | | | | |
| | | | | | | Vásquez | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Jones | 7 | 6 | | | Jones | 1 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Gregory | 5 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | 4 | Mandlíková | 6 | 6 |
| | Horvath | 6 | 3 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | 10 | Bunge | 3 | 1 |
| | Gadusek | 3 | 6 | 2 | | Horvath | 5 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | O'Neil | 7 | 4 | 0 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | Horvath | 3 | 7 | 2 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 10 | Bunge | 6 | 5 | 6 | | | | |
| | | | | | | Desfor | 1 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 10 | Bunge | 6 | 6 | | 10 | Bunge | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Durie | 2 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 4

| 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 | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| | | | | 11 | Smith | 4 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| Pinterová | 6 | 0 | 6 | | Pinterová | 6 | 3 | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| Lee | 1 | 6 | 1 | | | | | | 11 | Smith | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | Collins | 4 | 4 | | | | | |
| | | | | | Portman | 6 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Collins | 6 | 6 | | | Collins | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Amiach | 3 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | 11 | Smith | 1 | 6 | 3 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Rinaldi | 6 | 4 | 6 |
| | | | | | DuVall | 6 | 1 | 0 | | | | | | | | | |
| Rinaldi | 6 | 6 | | | Rinaldi | 4 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| Perea | 0 | 3 | | | | | | | | Rinaldi | 6 | 7 | | | | | |
| Sandin | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | 8 | Fromholtz | 3 | 5 | | | | | |
| Freeman | 1 | 2 | | | Sandin | 2 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | 8 | Fromholtz | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 5

| 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 |
| 7 | Jaušovec | 6 | 4 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Villiger | 2 | 6 | 0 | 7 | Jaušovec | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Buchanan | 0 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 7 | Jaušovec | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | Giussani | 0 | 3 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Giussani | 6 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Sato | 6 | 7 | 7 | | Sato | 7 | 5 | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Latham | 7 | 5 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | 7 | Jaušovec | 6 | 6 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Reynolds | 3 | 2 |
| | | | | | | Sands | 2 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Reynolds | 7 | 6 | | | Reynolds | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Rollinson | 5 | 2 | | | | | | | | Reynolds | 2 | 7 | 6 | | | | |
| | Strachoňová | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | 9 | Jordan | 6 | 5 | 2 | | | | |
| | Gilbert | 5 | 4 | | | Strachoňová | 6 | 6 | 4 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 9 | Jordan | 4 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 6

| First round | First round | First round | First round | First 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 |
| | | | | | 14 | Madruga | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Van der Torre | 7 | 6 | | | Van der Torre | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Harford | 5 | 1 | | | | | | 14 | Madruga | 6 | 4 | 3 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | Bohm | 2 | 6 | 6 | | | | |
| | | | | | | Bohm | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Tomanová | 6 | 6 | | | Tomanová | 3 | 3 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Du Pont | 3 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | Bohm | 2 | 4 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | Jaeger | 6 | 6 |
| | | | | | | Blount | 2 | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Vermaak | 7 | 6 | | | Vermaak | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Budařová | 5 | 1 | | | | | | | Vermaak | 1 | 2 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | 3 | Jaeger | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Coles | 1 | 0 | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Jaeger | 4 | 7 | 6 | 3 | Jaeger | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Temesvári | 6 | 6 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 7

| 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 |
| | | | 6 | Hanika | 6 | 4 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| Jevans | 6 | 7 | | Jevans | 2 | 6 | 3 | | | | | | | | | |
| Lovera | 4 | 5 | | | | | | 6 | Hanika | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | Rossi | 3 | 2 | | | | | |
| | | | | Medrado | 6 | 6 | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| Rossi | 6 | 6 | | Rossi | 4 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| Lewis | 3 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | 6 | Hanika | 6 | 6 |
| Piatek | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | 12 | Maršíková | 1 | 3 |
| Skronská | 4 | 2 | | Piatek | 3 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Vessies | 6 | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | Piatek | 6 | 5 | 5 | | | | |
| Monteiro | 6 | 7 | | | | | | 12 | Maršíková | 2 | 7 | 7 | | | | |
| Brzáková | 2 | 6 | | Monteiro | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 12 | Maršíková | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 8

| 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 | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| | | | | 15 | Allen | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| Minter | 4 | 7 | 6 | | Minter | 4 | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| Simon | 6 | 5 | 3 | | | | | | 15 | Allen | 6 | 7 | | | | |
| Remilton | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | Remilton | 1 | 6 | | | | |
| Eisterlehner | 4 | 2 | | | Remilton | 7 | 4 | 8 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | Hobbs | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | 15 | Allen | 1 | 2 |
| White | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Navratilova | 6 | 6 |
| Franch | 4 | 2 | | | White | 1 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | Tobin | 6 | 3 | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | White | 1 | 1 | | | | |
| Riedel-Kühn | 6 | 4 | 6 | | | | | | 2 | Navratilova | 6 | 6 | | | | |
| Gurdal | 0 | 6 | 1 | | Riedel-Kühn | 4 | 0 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | 2 | Navratilova | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |