# 1981 French Open – Men's singles

Three-time defending champion Björn Borg defeated Ivan Lendl in the final, 6–1, 4–6, 6–2, 3–6, 6–1 to win the men's singles tennis title at the 1981 French Open. It was his sixth French Open title and his eleventh and last major title overall. The final was played on June 7, the day after Borg's 25th birthday. This marked Borg's last French Open appearance, as he was required to play qualifying the following year due to inactivity and elected not to do so; he retired from the sport shortly after.

## Seeds

The seeded players are listed below. Björn Borg is the champion; others show the round in which they were eliminated.
* Björn Borg (champion)
* Jimmy Connors (quarterfinals)
* John McEnroe (quarterfinals)
* Gene Mayer (third round)
* Ivan Lendl (final)
* Guillermo Vilas (fourth round)
* José Luis Clerc (semifinals)
* Harold Solomon (first round)
* Vitas Gerulaitis (first round)
* Eliot Teltscher (first round)
* Yannick Noah (quarterfinals)
* Brian Gottfried (third round)
* Peter McNamara (fourth round)
* Wojtek Fibak (fourth round)
* Balázs Taróczy (quarterfinals)
* Eddie Dibbs (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 | Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final | Final | Final | Final | Final | Final |
| 1 | Björn Borg | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 15 | Balázs Taróczy | 3 | 3 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 15 | Balázs Taróczy | 3 | 3 | 2 | | | 1 | Björn Borg | 6 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | Víctor Pecci | 4 | 4 | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Víctor Pecci | 3 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | Víctor Pecci | 4 | 4 | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| 11 | Yannick Noah | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 11 | Yannick Noah | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | | | | | | | | | 1 | Björn Borg | 6 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 6 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 5 | Ivan Lendl | 1 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 1 |
| 5 | Ivan Lendl | 6 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 5 | Ivan Lendl | 1 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 1 |
| 3 | John McEnroe | 4 | 4 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | John McEnroe | 4 | 4 | 5 | | | 5 | Ivan Lendl | 3 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | 7 | José Luis Clerc | 6 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 2 | | | | | | | |
| 7 | José Luis Clerc | 4 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 7 | José Luis Clerc | 6 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 2 | | | | | | | |
| 2 | Jimmy Connors | 6 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

### 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 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | J López-Maeso | 2 | 2 | 2 | | | 1 | B Borg | 6 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | W Popp | 3 | 6 | 3 | 6 | | Q | C Motta | 1 | 5 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | C Motta | 6 | 3 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | 1 | B Borg | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | M Martinez | 4 | 5 | 2 | | | | | | | | Q | P Torre | 2 | 1 | 2 | | | | | |
| | A Giménez | 6 | 7 | 6 | | | | A Giménez | 3 | 4 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | P McNamee | 1 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 5 | Q | P Torre | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | P Torre | 6 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | B Borg | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| | T Moor | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | T Moor | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| | A Järryd | 2 | 4 | 2 | | | | T Moor | 6 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | J L Damiani | 6 | | | | | | J L Damiani | 3 | 6 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | R Gehring | 2 | r | | | | | | | | | | T Moor | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | P Kronk | 1 | 3 | 1 | | | | | | | | | I Năstase | 3 | 2 | 1 | | | | | |
| | P Proisy | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | P Proisy | 1 | 2 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | I Năstase | 6 | 6 | 7 | | | | I Năstase | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 10 | E Teltscher | 2 | 4 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

### 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 | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| 15 | B Taróczy | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | H Pfister | 3 | 0 | 1 | | 15 | B Taróczy | 7 | 7 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | T Šmid | 6 | 7 | 6 | | | T Šmid | 6 | 5 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Z Franulović | 1 | 6 | 2 | | | | | | | | | 15 | B Taróczy | 6 | 5 | | | | | | | |
| | M Hocevar | 2 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | Q | B Testerman | 1 | 2 | r | | | | | | |
| | J Restrepo | 6 | 4 | 2 | 3 | | M Hocevar | 4 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | P Hutka | 4 | 1 | 6 | 4 | Q | B Testerman | 6 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | B Testerman | 6 | 6 | 4 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | 15 | B Taróczy | 7 | 6 | 5 | 6 |
| | F Taygan | 1 | 6 | 4 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | T Tulasne | 5 | 3 | 7 | 3 |
| | T Giammalva | 6 | 3 | 6 | 6 | | T Giammalva | 6 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | T Zugarelli | 3 | 1 | 0 | | | R Vizcaíno | 4 | 5 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | R Vizcaíno | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | T Giammalva | 4 | 0 | 3 | | | | | | |
| | J Higueras | 3 | 0 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | T Tulasne | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | |
| | T Tulasne | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | T Tulasne | 6 | 4 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | A Panatta | 6 | 7 | 6 | | | A Panatta | 4 | 6 | 3 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8 | H Solomon | 3 | 5 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

### 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 | G Mayer | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | D Bedel | 1 | 4 | 3 | | | 4 | G Mayer | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | R Moore | 7 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 9 | | R Moore | 4 | 2 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | P Dominguez | 5 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 7 | | | | | | | | 4 | G Mayer | 4 | 1 | r | | | | | | |
| | S Glickstein | 7 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | V Pecci | 6 | 2 | | | | | | | |
| | R Meyer | 5 | 3 | 0 | | | | S Glickstein | 6 | 3 | 5 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | V Pecci | 6 | 7 | 6 | | | | V Pecci | 4 | 6 | 7 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | V Magnelli | 2 | 5 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | V Pecci | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| | H Ismail | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 14 | W Fibak | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| | F González | 6 | 3 | 2 | 2 | | | H Ismail | 2 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | F Maynetto | 2 | 6 | 4 | | | | E Deblicker | 6 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | E Deblicker | 6 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | H Ismail | 6 | 2 | 3 | 2 | | | | | |
| | L Sanders | 2 | 6 | 2 | 4 | | | | | | | | | 14 | W Fibak | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | F Luna | 6 | 4 | 6 | 6 | | | F Luna | 6 | 0 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | B Nichols | 2 | 2 | 4 | | | 14 | W Fibak | 7 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 14 | W Fibak | 6 | 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 | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| 11 | Y Noah | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | R Krishnan | 1 | 1 | 4 | | | 11 | Y Noah | 7 | 1 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | H Gildemeister | 6 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 12 | | H Gildemeister | 6 | 6 | 4 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | C Freyss | 7 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 10 | | | | | | | 11 | Y Noah | 6 | 3 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | |
| | K Eberhard | 1 | 4 | 7 | 3 | | | | | | | | | J Norbäck | 0 | 6 | 1 | 4 | | | | | | |
| | J Norbäck | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | | | J Norbäck | 7 | 2 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | G Guerrero | 6 | 2 | 3 | 4 | | | R Frawley | 6 | 6 | 4 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | R Frawley | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 11 | Y Noah | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 |
| | R Fagel | 3 | 0 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 6 | G Vilas | 2 | 3 | 7 | 4 |
| | T Waltke | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | T Waltke | 4 | 4 | 7 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | D Carter | 6 | 3 | 4 | 2 | | | R Cano | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | R Cano | 3 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | R Cano | 1 | 1 | 0 | | | | | | | |
| | R Case | 3 | 1 | 2 | | | | | | | | | 6 | G Vilas | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | |
| | P Portes | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | P Portes | 2 | 3 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | P Bertolucci | 2 | 5 | 2 | | | 6 | G Vilas | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | G Vilas | 6 | 7 | 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 |
| 5 | I Lendl | 7 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | J Fitzgerald | 5 | 6 | 4 | | | 5 | I Lendl | 6 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | E Edwards | 6 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 3 | | A Gómez | 2 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | A Gómez | 4 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 6 | | | | | | | | 5 | I Lendl | 6 | 6 | 4 | 6 | | | | | | |
| | E Bengoechea | 6 | 6 | 3 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | E Bengoechea | 2 | 1 | 6 | 3 | | | | | | |
| | H Leconte | 4 | 1 | 6 | 4 | | | E Bengoechea | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | C Wittus | 7 | 3 | 5 | 3 | | | C Mayotte | 4 | 0 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | C Mayotte | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 5 | I Lendl | 6 | 4 | 7 | 7 |
| | P Feigl | 7 | 5 | 2 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 13 | P McNamara | 2 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| | E Fromm | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | | | E Fromm | 6 | 2 | 0 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | B Martin | 4 | 7 | 7 | 6 | | | B Martin | 3 | 6 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | M Mir | 6 | 6 | 6 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | B Martin | 0 | 2 | 1 | | | | | | | |
| | D Naegelen | 3 | 6 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | 13 | P McNamara | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | |
| | G Moretton | 6 | 7 | 6 | | | | G Moretton | 3 | 3 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | G Goven | 3 | 1 | 7 | 1 | | 13 | P McNamara | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 13 | P McNamara | 6 | 6 | 5 | 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 | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| 9 | V Gerulaitis | 6 | 2 | 5 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | R Ycaza | 4 | 6 | 7 | 7 | | | R Ycaza | 5 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| PR | C Gattiker | 4 | 6 | 6 | | | | J Arias | 7 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | J Arias | 6 | 7 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | R Ycaza | 6 | 0 | 7 | 6 | | | | | |
| | C Johnstone | 6 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | P Hjertquist | 4 | 6 | 6 | 2 | | | | | |
| | L Stefanki | 1 | 5 | 0 | | | | C Johnstone | 4 | 5 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | O Parun | 4 | 4 | 4 | | | | P Hjertquist | 6 | 7 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | P Hjertquist | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | R Ycaza | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| PR | D Pérez | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | J McEnroe | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| | J Kodeš | 2 | 1 | 4 | | | PR | D Pérez | 7 | 6 | 2 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | R Van't Hof | 4 | 6 | 0 | 1 | | | J Hřebec | 6 | 4 | 6 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | J Hřebec | 6 | 3 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | PR | D Pérez | 1 | 6 | 0 | 4 | | | | | |
| | J Fillol Sr. | 3 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | 3 | J McEnroe | 6 | 2 | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | C Barazzutti | 6 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 4 | | J Fillol Sr. | 3 | 0 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | V Van Patten | 2 | 0 | 4 | | | 3 | J McEnroe | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | J McEnroe | 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 | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| 7 | J L Clerc | 7 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | H Günthardt | 5 | 5 | 1 | | 7 | J L Clerc | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | A Fillol | 6 | 6 | 3 | 6 | | A Fillol | 4 | 1 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | F Dalla Fontana | 1 | 3 | 6 | 4 | | | | | | | 7 | J L Clerc | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | |
| | J Nyström | 6 | 6 | 3 | 6 | | | | | | | Q | A Ganzábal | 4 | 2 | 1 | | | | | | |
| | S Krulevitz | 2 | 7 | 6 | 7 | | S Krulevitz | 3 | 7 | 1 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | M Orantes | 6 | 4 | 2 | | Q | A Ganzábal | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | A Ganzábal | 7 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | 7 | J L Clerc | 6 | 3 | 7 | 7 |
| | R Ramírez | 3 | 6 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | C Kirmayr | 4 | 6 | 5 | 5 |
| | C Kirmayr | 6 | 7 | 6 | | | C Kirmayr | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | P Složil | 6 | 3 | 6 | 6 | | P Složil | 4 | 4 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | G Rinaldini | 2 | 6 | 2 | 3 | | | | | | | | C Kirmayr | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | |
| | J Potier | 1 | 7 | 4 | 2 | | | | | | | 12 | B Gottfried | 2 | 4 | 2 | | | | | | |
| | H Simonsson | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | | H Simonsson | 2 | 3 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | G Aubone | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 12 | B Gottfried | 6 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 12 | B Gottfried | 6 | 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 | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| 16 | E Dibbs | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | B Manson | 0 | 1 | 1 | | | 16 | E Dibbs | 6 | 6 | 4 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | C Lewis | 6 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 6 | | C Lewis | 3 | 2 | 6 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | M Edmondson | 4 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 4 | | | | | | | | 16 | E Dibbs | 6 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 3 | | | | | |
| | J-L Haillet | 6 | 5 | 4 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | M Purcell | 3 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| PR | M Bahrami | 4 | 7 | 6 | 7 | | PR | M Bahrami | 1 | 1 | 6 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | M Purcell | 3 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | M Purcell | 6 | 6 | 3 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | A Maurer | 6 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | M Purcell | 2 | 4 | 6 |
| | B McKown | 3 | 3 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | J Connors | 6 | 6 | 7 |
| | J-F Caujolle | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | J-F Caujolle | 3 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | D Schneider | 4 | 6 | 4 | 2 | | | P Kuchna | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | P Kuchna | 6 | 3 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | J-F Caujolle | 0 | 2 | 0 | | | | | | | |
| | G Urpí | 7 | 4 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | 2 | J Connors | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | |
| | C Casa | 5 | 6 | 4 | 0 | | | G Urpí | 3 | 6 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | C Roger-Vasselin | 1 | 5 | 6 | 3 | | 2 | J Connors | 6 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2 | J Connors | 6 | 7 | 3 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |