# 1981 Wimbledon Championships – Men's singles

John McEnroe defeated five-time defending champion Björn Borg in a rematch of the previous year's final, 4–6, 7–6$^{(7–1)}$, 7–6$^{(7–4)}$, 6–4 to win the gentlemen's singles tennis title at the 1981 Wimbledon Championships. It was his first Wimbledon singles title and third major singles title overall. Borg was attempting to equal William Renshaw's record of six consecutive Wimbledon titles and Roy Emerson's all-time record of 12 major singles titles. It was Borg's last Wimbledon appearance.
During this tournament, McEnroe famously shouted "You cannot be serious!" to the chair umpire in response to a serve being called "out". The disagreement took place on 22 June, during his first round match against Tom Gullikson.

## Seeds

    01. Björn Borg (final)
    02. John McEnroe (champion)
    03. Jimmy Connors (semifinals)
    04. Ivan Lendl (first round)
    05. Gene Mayer (withdrew before the tournament began)
    06. Brian Teacher (second round)
    07. Brian Gottfried (second round)
    08. Roscoe Tanner (second round)
    09. José Luis Clerc (third round)
    10. Guillermo Vilas (first round)
    11. Víctor Pecci (first round)
    12. Peter McNamara (quarterfinals)
    13. Yannick Noah (first round)
    14. Wojciech Fibak (fourth round)
    15. Balázs Taróczy (third round)
    16. Vitas Gerulaitis (fourth round)
Click on the seed number of a player to go to their draw section.
Gene Mayer withdrew due to injury. He was replaced in the draw by lucky loser Mike Estep.

## Draw
### Key

* Q = Qualifier
* WC = Wild card
* LL = Lucky loser
* Alt = Alternate
* SE = Special exempt
* PR = Protected ranking
* ITF = ITF entry
* JE = Junior exempt
* w/o = Walkover
* r = Retired
* d = Defaulted
* SR = Special ranking

### Finals

| Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final | Final | Final | Final | Final |
| 1 | Björn Borg | 7$^7$ | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 12 | Peter McNamara | 6$^2$ | 2 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 12 | Peter McNamara | 6$^2$ | 2 | 3 | | | 1 | Björn Borg | 0 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | 3 | Jimmy Connors | 6 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 4 | | | | | | |
| 3 | Jimmy Connors | 2 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 3 | Jimmy Connors | 6 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 4 | | | | | | |
| | Vijay Amritraj | 6 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Vijay Amritraj | 6 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 2 | | | | | | | | 1 | Björn Borg | 6 | 6$^1$ | 6$^4$ | 4 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | John McEnroe | 4 | 7$^7$ | 7$^7$ | 6 |
| | Rod Frawley | 4 | 7$^7$ | 7$^7$ | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | John McEnroe | 4 | 7$^7$ | 7$^7$ | 6 |
| | Tim Mayotte | 6 | 6$^5$ | 6$^4$ | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Tim Mayotte | 6 | 6$^5$ | 6$^4$ | 3 | | | Rod Frawley | 6$^2$ | 4 | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | 2 | John McEnroe | 7$^7$ | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | |
| | Johan Kriek | 1 | 5 | 1 | | | 2 | John McEnroe | 7$^7$ | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | |
| 2 | John McEnroe | 6 | 7 | 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 | 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 |
| 1 | B Borg | 7$^7$ | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | P Rennert | 6$^2$ | 3 | 1 | | | 1 | B Borg | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | D Collings | 4 | 3 | 3 | | | | M Purcell | 4 | 1 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | M Purcell | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | 1 | B Borg | 6 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | |
| | F Taygan | 7 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | R Gehring | 4 | 5 | 0 | | | | | | | |
| | N Saviano | 5 | 1 | 2 | | | | F Taygan | 5 | 1 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| LL | U Marten | 6 | 2 | 7 | 0 | | | R Gehring | 7 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | R Gehring | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | B Borg | 7$^7$ | 7 | 7$^8$ |
| | V Amaya | 6 | 7 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 16 | V Gerulaitis | 6$^4$ | 5 | 6$^6$ |
| | P Feigl | 4 | 6 | 7 | 6 | | | V Amaya | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | C Mottram | 6 | 6 | 4 | 6 | | | C Mottram | 3 | 4 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| WC | R Drysdale | 1 | 4 | 6 | 3 | | | | | | | | | V Amaya | 6 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 5 | | | | | |
| Q | J Bailey | 7 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 4 | | | | | | | 16 | V Gerulaitis | 4 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 7 | | | | | |
| | K Curren | 6 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 6 | | K Curren | 3 | 7 | 3 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | G Holroyd | 3 | 4 | 6 | | | 16 | V Gerulaitis | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 16 | V Gerulaitis | 6 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### 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 | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| 12 | P McNamara | 6 | 6 | 2 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | H Günthardt | 1 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 12 | P McNamara | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | J Delaney | 5 | 3 | 7 | 3 | | S Stewart | 4 | 0 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | S Stewart | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | 12 | P McNamara | 6 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | |
| | Á Giménez | 6 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | A Pattison | 1 | 0 | 5 | | | | | | |
| Q | J Windahl | 3 | 5 | 2 | | | Á Giménez | 6 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | S Giammalva | 3 | 7 | 3 | 6 | | A Pattison | 4 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | A Pattison | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 12 | P McNamara | 7 | 6 | 7 |
| | Tim Gullikson | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | J Borowiak | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| | G Rinaldini | 1 | 2 | 3 | | | Tim Gullikson | 3 | 7 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | P Fleming | 7 | 6 | 2 | 7 | | P Fleming | 6 | 6 | 6 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | S Docherty | 6 | 2 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | Tim Gullikson | 3 | 6 | 6 | 3 | | | | | |
| Q | E van Dillen | 2 | 4 | 6 | 2 | | | | | | | | | J Borowiak | 6 | 7 | 4 | 6 | | | | | |
| | J Borowiak | 6 | 6 | 4 | 6 | | J Borowiak | 6 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | K Walts | 3 | 3 | 2 | | 7 | B Gottfried | 4 | 6 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 7 | B Gottfried | 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 | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| 3 | J Connors | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | R Stockton | 1 | 2 | 4 | | | 3 | J Connors | 7 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | C Lewis | 6 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 6 | | C Lewis | 6 | 6 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | C Dunk | 7 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 4 | | | | | | | 3 | J Connors | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | |
| | T Šmid | 5 | 3 | 6 | 2 | | | | | | | | | A Giammalva | 4 | 4 | 0 | | | | | | | |
| | P DuPré | 7 | 6 | 3 | 6 | | | P DuPré | 3 | 4 | 6 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | A Giammalva | 6 | 7 | 6 | | | | A Giammalva | 6 | 6 | 1 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| LL | S Davis | 2 | 6 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | J Connors | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Q | C Wittus | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 14 | W Fibak | 3 | 2 | 4 |
| | E Edwards | 4 | 4 | 4 | | | Q | C Wittus | 3 | 0 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | B Drewett | 7 | 4 | 6 | 6 | | | B Drewett | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | M Hocevar | 6 | 6 | 4 | 3 | | | | | | | | | B Drewett | 6 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 4 | | | | | |
| Q | M Davis | 7 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | 14 | W Fibak | 7 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 6 | | | | | |
| | S Glickstein | 5 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | Q | M Davis | 4 | 4 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | M Doyle | 4 | 7 | 4 | 5 | | 14 | W Fibak | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 14 | W Fibak | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### 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 |
| 9 | JL Clerc | 3 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| LL | Á Fillol | 6 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 9 | JL Clerc | 4 | 6 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| WC | J Lloyd | 6 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 6 | WC | J Lloyd | 6 | 3 | 6 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | P Dent | 4 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 4 | | | | | | | | 9 | JL Clerc | 6 | 4 | 1 | 6 | | | | |
| | P Portes | 7 | 6 | 2 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | P Kronk | 2 | 6 | 6 | 7 | | | | |
| Q | W Pascoe | 5 | 7 | 6 | 7 | | Q | W Pascoe | 5 | 3 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | P Kronk | 6 | 6 | 3 | 6 | | | P Kronk | 7 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | W Martin | 2 | 3 | 6 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | P Kronk | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| | R Van't Hof | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | V Amritraj | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| | K Eberhard | 4 | 4 | 4 | | | | R Van't Hof | 3 | 4 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | T Okker | 5 | 7 | 4 | 6 | | | T Wilkison | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | T Wilkison | 7 | 5 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | T Wilkison | 3 | 2 | 6 | 4 | | | | |
| | V Amritraj | 6 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | V Amritraj | 6 | 6 | 3 | 6 | | | | |
| WC | J Kodeš | 0 | 1 | 5 | | | | V Amritraj | 6 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | R Stadler | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | | 6 | B Teacher | 4 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | B Teacher | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

### Bottom half
#### Section 5

| 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 |
| 8 | R Tanner | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | B Manson | 1 | 4 | 4 | | 8 | R Tanner | 4 | 4 | 6 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | C Kirmayr | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | C Kirmayr | 6 | 6 | 3 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| WC | M Cox | 3 | 7 | 4 | 4 | | | | | | | | C Kirmayr | 6 | 3 | 3 | | | | | |
| | L Stefanki | 1 | 6 | 3 | | | | | | | | | R Frawley | 7 | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| Q | C Letcher | 6 | 7 | 6 | | Q | C Letcher | 3 | 1 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | R Frawley | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | R Frawley | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | T Tulasne | 6 | 2 | 3 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | R Frawley | 6 | 6 | 7 |
| | J Austin | 7 | 2 | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | J Fitzgerald | 4 | 3 | 6 |
| Q | M Wilander | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | Q | M Wilander | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| WC | J Alexander | 4 | 6 | 4 | 2 | LL | H Leconte | 6 | 4 | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
| LL | H Leconte | 6 | 2 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | Q | M Wilander | 0 | 6 | 2 | 2 | | | | |
| | J Fitzgerald | 5 | 7 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | J Fitzgerald | 6 | 4 | 6 | 6 | | | | |
| Q | S McCain | 7 | 6 | 2 | 3 | | J Fitzgerald | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | W Scanlon | 7 | 6 | 6 | | | W Scanlon | 1 | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 11 | V Pecci | 6 | 0 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### 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 | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| 10 | G Vilas | 4 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | M Edmondson | 6 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 6 | | M Edmondson | 4 | 3 | 7 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | |
| WC | R Lewis | 5 | 6 | 4 | 4 | | | F Buehning | 6 | 6 | 5 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | F Buehning | 7 | 4 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | F Buehning | 4 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 1 | | | | |
| | S Krulevitz | 6 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 3 | | | | | | | A Mayer | 6 | 2 | 7 | 5 | 6 | | | | |
| | H Simonsson | 4 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | H Simonsson | 2 | 1 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | I Năstase | 4 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 4 | | A Mayer | 6 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | A Mayer | 6 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | A Mayer | 3 | 4 | 6 |
| WC | A Jarrett | 3 | 7 | 3 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | T Mayotte | 6 | 6 | 7 |
| | J Sadri | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | | | J Sadri | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | C Roger-Vasselin | 6 | 6 | 7 | | | | C Roger-Vasselin | 6 | 7 | 3 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | J López-Maeso | 4 | 4 | 6 | | | | | | | | | J Sadri | 6 | 3 | 5 | | | | | | |
| | T Mayotte | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | T Mayotte | 7 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | |
| | B Mitton | 3 | 4 | 2 | | | | T Mayotte | 4 | 6 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | C Fancutt | 4 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 6 | Q | C Fancutt | 6 | 4 | 6 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | I Lendl | 6 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### 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 | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| LL | M Estep | 0 | 3 | 7 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | J Kriek | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | J Kriek | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | S Menon | 4 | 0 | 6 | 4 | | LL | J Nyström | 2 | 4 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| LL | J Nyström | 6 | 6 | 3 | 6 | | | | | | | | J Kriek | 7 | 3 | 6 | 7 | | | | | |
| | R Simpson | 7 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | R Simpson | 6 | 6 | 2 | 5 | | | | | |
| LL | S Denton | 6 | 3 | 6 | | | | R Simpson | 6 | 6 | 3 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | G Moretton | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | Q | G Moretton | 4 | 4 | 6 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | J Fillol | 6 | 3 | 2 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | J Kriek | 3 | 6 | 7 | 6 |
| | P Složil | 3 | 4 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | F González | 6 | 3 | 6 | 1 |
| | P McNamee | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | P McNamee | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| LL | C Johnstone | 6 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 6 | LL | C Johnstone | 2 | 1 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | C Miller | 4 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 3 | | | | | | | P McNamee | 4 | 2 | 2 | | | | | | |
| | F González | 6 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | F González | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | |
| | C Freyss | 0 | 5 | 2 | | | | F González | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | E Fromm | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | E Fromm | 3 | 7 | 5 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 13 | Y Noah | 4 | 4 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### 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 | 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 | 7 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | A Järryd | 6 | 4 | 3 | | | 15 | B Taróczy | 7 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | R Hightower | 2 | 2 | 4 | | | | R Meyer | 6 | 3 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | R Meyer | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | 15 | B Taróczy | 3 | 2 | 3 | | | | | | |
| | H Ismail | 3 | 1 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | S Smith | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | |
| | S Smith | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | S Smith | 6 | 7 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | R Fagel | 1 | 2 | 1 | | | | R Case | 3 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | R Case | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | S Smith | 5 | 6 | 1 | 2 |
| | D Carter | 3 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | J McEnroe | 7 | 3 | 6 | 6 |
| | R Lutz | 6 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 6 | | R Lutz | 6 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | F Maynetto | 6 | 2 | 1 | | | WC | J Feaver | 3 | 5 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| WC | J Feaver | 7 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | R Lutz | 4 | 2 | 0 | | | | | | |
| | R Moore | 4 | 5 | 2 | | | | | | | | | 2 | J McEnroe | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | |
| | R Ramírez | 6 | 7 | 6 | | | | R Ramírez | 3 | 7$^8$ | 3 | 6$^6$ | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | To Gullikson | 6$^5$ | 5 | 3 | | | 2 | J McEnroe | 6 | 6$^6$ | 6 | 7$^8$ | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2 | J McEnroe | 7$^7$ | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |