# 1981 US Open – Women's singles

Tracy Austin defeated Martina Navratilova in the final, 1–6, 7–6$^{(7–4)}$, 7–6$^{(7–1)}$ to win the women's singles tennis title at the 1981 US Open. It was her second US Open title and second and last major singles title.
Chris Evert was the defending champion, but lost in the semifinals to Navratilova. The loss ended Evert's streak of six consecutive US Open finals.

## Seeds

The seeded players are listed below. Tracy Austin is the champion; others show the round in which they were eliminated.
* Chris Evert (semifinalist)
* Andrea Jaeger (second round)
* Tracy Austin (champion)
* Martina Navratilova (finalist)
* Hana Mandlíková (quarterfinalist)
* Sylvia Hanika (quarterfinalist)
* Wendy Turnbull (third round)
* Pam Shriver (fourth round)
* Virginia Ruzici (third round)
* Mima Jaušovec (second round)
* Barbara Potter (semifinalist)
* Bettina Bunge (fourth round)
* Regina Maršíková (first round)
* Kathy Jordan (fourth round)
* Sue Barker (second round)
* Dianne Fromholtz (first round)

## Draw

This edition of the US Open was the first time that the women's singles tournament featured a 128-player draw.

### Key

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

### Final eight

| Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| 1 | Chris Evert | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Hana Mandlíková | 1 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Hana Mandlíková | 1 | 3 | 1 | Chris Evert | 5 | 6 | 4 | | | | | |
| | | | | 4 | Martina Navratilova | 7 | 4 | 6 | | | | | |
| 4 | Martina Navratilova | 7 | 6 | 4 | Martina Navratilova | 7 | 4 | 6 | | | | | |
| | Anne Smith | 5 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Anne Smith | 5 | 4 | | | | | | 4 | Martina Navratilova | 6 | 6$^4$ | 6$^1$ |
| | | | | | | | | | 3 | Tracy Austin | 1 | 7$^7$ | 7$^7$ |
| 6 | Sylvia Hanika | 4 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | Tracy Austin | 1 | 7$^7$ | 7$^7$ |
| 3 | Tracy Austin | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Tracy Austin | 6 | 6 | 3 | Tracy Austin | 6 | 6 | | | | | | |
| | | | | 11 | Barbara Potter | 1 | 3 | | | | | | |
| Q | Barbara Gerken | 5 | 5 | 11 | Barbara Potter | 1 | 3 | | | | | | |
| 11 | Barbara Potter | 7 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | |

### Earlier rounds
#### Section 1

| 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 |
| 1 | Evert | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Keil | 1 | 1 | 1 | Evert | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Latham | 6 | 6 | | Latham | 0 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Saliba | 1 | 2 | | | | | | 1 | Evert | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | Louie | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | Moulton | 3 | 0 | | | | | |
| | Jevans | 3 | 0 | | Louie | 3 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Moulton | 6 | 6 | | Moulton | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Stöve | 2 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | Evert | 6 | 6 |
| | Jones | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | 12 | Bunge | 2 | 0 |
| | Pinterová | 3 | 4 | | Jones | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | Thompson | 6 | 6 | Q | Thompson | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Collins | 4 | 3 | | | | | | Q | Thompson | 6 | 6 | 3 | | | | |
| | Kiyomura | 7 | 7 | | | | | | 12 | Bunge | 2 | 7 | 6 | | | | |
| | Van der Torre | 5 | 5 | | Kiyomura | 3 | 6 | 3 | | | | | | | | | |
| 12 | Bunge | 6 | 6 | 12 | Bunge | 6 | 3 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Louie | 2 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### 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 |
| 9 | Ruzici | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | White | 2 | 1 | | 9 | Ruzici | 5 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Burgin | 6 | 6 | | | Burgin | 7 | 5 | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Antonoplis | 3 | 3 | | | | | | | 9 | Ruzici | 1 | 6 | 5 | | | | |
| | Mascarin | 3 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | Lee | 6 | 4 | 7 | | | | |
| | Yeargin | 6 | 2 | 4 | | Mascarin | 7 | 4 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Lee | 6 | 6 | | | Lee | 6 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Leo | 3 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | Lee | 1 | 0 |
| | Jordan | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | 5 | Mandlíková | 6 | 6 |
| Q | Hutnick | 5 | 1 | | | Jordan | 3 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Coles | 6 | 6 | | | Coles | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | McInerney | 3 | 0 | | | | | | | | Coles | 2 | 1 | | | | | |
| | Reynolds | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | 5 | Mandlíková | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | Sands | 3 | 0 | | | Reynolds | 4 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Mandlíková | 6 | 7 | 6 | 5 | Mandlíková | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Piatek | 7 | 6 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### 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 | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| 4 | Navratilova | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Gregory | 0 | 1 | | 4 | Navratilova | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | White | 4 | 6 | 6 | | White | 2 | 3 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Pasquale | 6 | 1 | 2 | | | | | | 4 | Navratilova | 6 | 6 | | | | |
| | Blackwood | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | Russell | 2 | 1 | | | | |
| | Steinmetz | 4 | 4 | | | Blackwood | 2 | 4 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Russell | 1 | 6 | 6 | | Russell | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Bonder | 6 | 3 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | 4 | Navratilova | 6 | 6 |
| | Harford | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | 14 | Jordan | 0 | 1 |
| | Brzáková | 4 | 2 | | | Harford | 2 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | |
| | Vanier | 1 | 6 | 6 | | Vanier | 6 | 2 | 7 | | | | | | | | |
| | Allen | 6 | 2 | 3 | | | | | | | Vanier | 2 | 1 | | | | |
| | Tanvier | 6 | 5 | 6 | | | | | | 14 | Jordan | 6 | 6 | | | | |
| | Vásquez | 2 | 7 | 1 | | Tanvier | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| 14 | Jordan | 6 | 6 | | 14 | Jordan | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Little | 0 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 4

| 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 | Fourth round |
| | Smith | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 16 | Fromholtz | 3 | 3 | | | Smith | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | McCallum | 6 | 6 | | | McCallum | 0 | 0 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Preyer | 2 | 3 | | | | | | | Smith | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | Doherty | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | Portman | 1 | 0 | | | | | |
| | Sato | 5 | 1 | | | Doherty | 5 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Portman | 6 | 7 | | | Portman | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| LL | Davis | 2 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | Smith | 6 | 1 | 7 |
| | Tomanová | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | 8 | Shriver | 4 | 6 | 5 |
| | Forood | 3 | 3 | | | Tomanová | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Nelson | 6 | 1 | 7 | | Nelson | 4 | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Herr | 2 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | Tomanová | 3 | 2 | | | | | |
| | DuVall | 3 | 6 | 6 | | | | | 8 | Shriver | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | Margolin | 6 | 4 | 0 | | DuVall | 0 | 3 | | | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Shriver | 6 | 6 | | 8 | Shriver | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Gilbert | 1 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 5

| 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 |
| 6 | Hanika | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Remilton | 2 | 2 | | 6 | Hanika | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Blount | 6 | 6 | | | Blount | 5 | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| LL | Gordon | 2 | 0 | | | | | | 6 | Hanika | 4 | 6 | 6 | | | | |
| | Mesker | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | Mesker | 6 | 1 | 2 | | | | |
| | Skronská | 3 | 2 | | | Mesker | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Vessies | 6 | 6 | | | Vessies | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Fernandez | 4 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | 6 | Hanika | 6 | 7 |
| | Mundel | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | Walsh | 2 | 5 |
| Q | Hepner | 5 | 1 | | | Mundel | 1 | 3 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Wade | 6 | 6 | 6 | | Wade | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Teeguarden | 3 | 7 | 2 | | | | | | Wade | 5 | 6 | 3 | | | | |
| | Walsh | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | Walsh | 7 | 4 | 6 | | | | |
| | Cummings | 1 | 3 | | | Walsh | 5 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| 15 | Barker | 6 | 4 | 6 | 15 | Barker | 7 | 3$^r$ | | | | | | | | | |
| | duPont | 4 | 6 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### 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 |
| | Casals | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 13 | Maršíková | 2 | 2 | | | Casals | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| LL | Appelbaum | 4 | 6 | 6 | LL | Appelbaum | 0 | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Sayers | 6 | 3 | 2 | | | | | | Casals | 3 | 6 | 6 | | | | |
| | Morrison | 0 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | Acker | 6 | 1 | 4 | | | | |
| | Minter | 6 | 3 | 3 | | Morrison | 4 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Acker | 7 | 6 | | | Acker | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Dent | 6 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | Casals | 1 | 3 |
| | Casale | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | Austin | 6 | 6 |
| | Budařová | 2 | 1 | | | Casale | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | Gompert | 7 | 6 | | Q | Gompert | 4 | 0 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Medrado | 5 | 3 | | | | | | | Casale | 3 | 0 | | | | | |
| | Nagelsen | 7 | 6 | | | | | | 3 | Austin | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | Baily | 5 | 3 | | | Nagelsen | 3 | 0 | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Austin | 6 | 6 | | 3 | Austin | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Hobbs | 1 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 7

| 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 | Turnbull | 3 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Garrison | 6 | 3 | 2 | 7 | Turnbull | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Romanov | 2 | 6 | 6 | | Romanov | 1 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | Mochizuki | 6 | 1 | 0 | | | | | | 7 | Turnbull | 5 | 3 | | | | | |
| Q | Gerken | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | Q | Gerken | 7 | 6 | | | | | |
| | Fairbank | 3 | 4 | | Q | Gerken | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Buchanan | 6 | 6 | | | Buchanan | 4 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Pfaff | 3 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | Q | Gerken | 7 | 6 |
| | Hallquist | 6 | 3 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | Durie | 6 | 1 |
| | Lewis | 4 | 6 | 2 | | Hallquist | 3 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Durie | 6 | 6 | | | Durie | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Desfor | 3 | 3 | | | | | | | | Durie | 6 | 3 | 6 | | | | |
| | Horvath | 7 | 3 | 7 | | | | | | | Horvath | 4 | 6 | 4 | | | | |
| | Rinaldi | 5 | 6 | 5 | | Horvath | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| 10 | Jaušovec | 6 | 6 | | 10 | Jaušovec | 3 | 7 | 3 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Arraya | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 8

| 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 |
| 11 | Potter | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Kohde | 7 | 1 | 2 | 11 | Potter | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Rollinson | 6 | 6 | | | Rollinson | 3 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | Brasher | 4 | 2 | | | | | | | 11 | Potter | 4 | 6 | 7 | | | | | |
| | Morse | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | Morse | 6 | 2 | 5 | | | | | |
| | Freeman | 3 | 2 | | | Morse | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Smith | 6 | 6 | | | Smith | 2 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Gerulaitis | 4 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | 11 | Potter | 6 | 7 | 6 |
| | Vermaak | 2 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | Leand | 7 | 6 | 3 |
| | Norton | 6 | 1 | 2 | | Vermaak | 4 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Harrington | 6 | 6 | | | Harrington | 6 | 1 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| LL | Klein | 0 | 3 | | | | | | | | Harrington | 4 | 3 | | | | | | |
| | Leand | 6 | 2 | 7 | | | | | | | Leand | 6 | 6 | | | | | | |
| | Richards | 4 | 6 | 5 | | Leand | 1 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2 | Jaeger | 6 | 6 | | 2 | Jaeger | 6 | 5 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | Calleja | 1 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |