1981 Australian Open – Men's Singles

Fourth-seeded Johan Kriek defeated Steve Denton 6–2, 7–6^(7–1), 6–7^(1–7), 6–4 in the final to win the Men's Singles tennis title at the 1981 Australian Open. Brian Teacher was the defending champion, but did not compete this year.

Men's Singles
1981 Australian Open
Champion	Johan Kriek
Runner-up	Steve Denton
Final score	6–2, 7–6^(7–1), 6–7^(1–7), 6–4
Draw	64
Seeds	16

Seeds

The seeded players are listed below. Johan Kriek is the champion; others show the round in which they were eliminated.

1. Guillermo Vilas (Third Round)
2. Peter McNamara (Quarterfinals)
3. Roscoe Tanner (Second Round)
4. Johan Kriek (Champion)
5. Kim Warwick (Quarterfinals)
6. Mark Edmondson (Semifinals)
7. Fritz Buehning (First Round)
8. Tim Mayotte (Quarterfinals)
9. Shlomo Glickstein (Quarterfinals)
10. John Sadri (First Round)
11. Chris Lewis (Third Round)
12. Hank Pfister (Semifinals)
13. Pat DuPré (Third Round)
14. Kevin Curren (Second Round)
15. Peter Rennert (Second Round)
16. John Fitzgerald (First Round)

Qualifying

Draw

Key

• Q = Qualifier
• WC = Wild Card
• L = Loser
• r. = retired

Final eight

	Quarter-finals									Semi-finals									Final
	12	Hank Pfister	6	4	6	6
	5	Kim Warwick	1	6	4	3
										12	Hank Pfister	6	7	1	6	3
											Steve Denton	7	6	6	3	6
	9	Shlomo Glickstein	4	6	6	0
		Steve Denton	6	3	7	6
																				Steve Denton	2	6	7	4
																			4	Johan Kriek	6	7	6	6
	8	Tim Mayotte	6	3	5
	4	Johan Kriek	7	6	7
										4	Johan Kriek	6	7	7
										6	Mark Edmondson	0	6	5
	6	Mark Edmondson	7	7	6
	2	Peter McNamara	5	6	3

Section 1

	First round									Second round									Third round									Fourth round
	1	G Vilas	6	6	7
		J Nyström	4	2	6					1	G Vilas	6	6	6	6
	Q	W Masur	6	4	6	2	6				L Stefanki	7	3	4	4
		L Stefanki	4	6	2	6	7												1	G Vilas	3	4	4
		H Simonsson	6	7	6	6													12	H Pfister	6	6	6
		R Hightower	4	6	7	3					H Simonsson	2	0	2
		L Bourne	6	6	3	6	1			12	H Pfister	6	6	6
	12	H Pfister	3	7	6	2	6																					12	H Pfister	6	4	6	6
	16	J Fitzgerald	7	6	6	3	4																					5	K Warwick	1	6	4	3
		P Dent	5	3	7	6	6				P Dent	7	6	7
		C Fancutt	3	6	6	6					C Fancutt	6	4	6
		C Johnstone	6	4	3	0														P Dent	3	3	0
		J Gurfein	6	7	6														5	K Warwick	6	6	6
	Q	W Pascoe	3	6	3						J Gurfein	5	2	5
		B Drewett	4	1	2					5	K Warwick	7	6	7
	5	K Warwick	6	6	6

Section 2

	First round									Second round									Third round									Fourth round
	3	R Tanner	6	6	6
		G Whitecross	3	3	3					3	R Tanner	3	6	4	3
		R Frawley	2	6	6	3	6				R Frawley	6	4	6	6
		A Järryd	6	2	1	6	3													R Frawley	2	3	2
		D Siegler	6	6	3	3	3												9	S Glickstein	6	6	6
		J Potier	3	1	6	6	6				J Potier	3	4	2
		C Dunk	4	6	5					9	S Glickstein	6	6	6
	9	S Glickstein	6	7	7																							9	S Glickstein	4	6	6	0
	14	K Curren	6	6	6																								S Denton	6	3	7	6
		S Krulevitz	2	2	1					14	K Curren	7	6	3	2	2
		E Edwards	6	7	3	6	3				S Denton	6	3	6	6	6
		S Denton	7	6	6	4	6													S Denton	6	4	7	7	7
		T Tulasne	6	6	7															J Alexander	7	6	6	5	6
		O Parun	3	4	5						T Tulasne	4	1	3
		J Alexander	2	6	3	6	7				J Alexander	6	6	6
	7	F Buehning	6	4	6	1	6

Section 3

	First round									Second round									Third round									Fourth round
	8	T Mayotte	6	6	6
	Q	E Sherbeck	2	3	1					8	T Mayotte	7	6	6
		R Van't Hof	6	6	1	4	6				R Van't Hof	6	3	3
		T Wilkison	3	3	6	6	3												8	T Mayotte	7	7	6
		R Simpson	6	7	6	6	6												13	P DuPré	6	5	4
	Q	D Collings	7	5	7	4	4				R Simpson	4	4	2
		B Guan	4	7	6	3	3			13	P DuPré	6	6	6
	13	P DuPré	6	6	4	6	6																					8	T Mayotte	6	3	5
	11	C Lewis	6	6	6																							4	J Kriek	7	6	7
		I Năstase	4	3	2					11	C Lewis	6	6	6
		J Smith	2	6	7	4	1				M Davis	4	3	3
		M Davis	6	7	6	6	6												11	C Lewis	5	5	6	6	4
	Q	T Högstedt	7	6	6														4	J Kriek	7	7	3	2	6
		S McCain	5	4	2					Q	T Högstedt	2	4	6
	Q	D Gitlin	2	5	1					4	J Kriek	6	6	7
	4	J Kriek	6	7	6

Section 4

	First round									Second round									Third round									Fourth round
	6	M Edmondson	6	6	6
		P Cash	1	2	3					6	M Edmondson	5	1	7	7	6
		S Ball	6	6	4	7					S Ball	7	6	5	5	4
	Q	S Meister	2	4	6	6													6	M Edmondson	6	6	6
		J Delaney	6	3	6	7													Q	C Letcher	2	0	3
	Q	M Mitchell	4	6	3	6					J Delaney	6	6	6	6	4
	Q	C Letcher	3	6	6	6				Q	C Letcher	7	7	4	3	6
	10	J Sadri	6	3	4	4																						6	M Edmondson	7	7	6
	15	P Rennert	6	6	3	6																						2	P McNamara	5	6	3
		CA Miller	2	2	6	3				15	P Rennert	6	1	3
		P Kronk	3	6	6	7					P Kronk	7	6	6
		M Wilander	6	3	4	5														P Kronk	6	2	2	6	3
		R Lewis	7	6	6														2	P McNamara	1	6	6	4	6
		C Wittus	6	4	0						R Lewis	6	6	5	4	2
		D Carter	0	2	2					2	P McNamara	3	4	7	6	6
	2	P McNamara	6	6	6

External links

• Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) – 1981 Australian Open Men's Singles draw
• 1981 Australian Open – Men's draws and results at the International Tennis Federation