1981 Australian Open – Men's singles

Men's singles
1981 Australian Open
Final
Champion	Johan Kriek
Runner-up	Steve Denton
Score	6–2, 7–6(7–1), 6–7(1–7), 6–4
Details
Draw	64
Seeds	16
Events
Singles men women boys girls Doubles men women mixed boys girls WC Singles men women quad WC Doubles men women quad Legends men women mixed
← 1980 · Australian Open · 1982 →

Johan Kriek defeated Steve Denton in the final, 6–2, 7–6^(7–1), 6–7^(1–7), 6–4 to win the men's singles tennis title at the 1981 Australian Open. It was his first major title.

Brian Teacher was the reigning champion, but did not compete this year.

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

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

	Quarterfinals									Semifinals									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

	First round									Second round									Third round									Quarterfinals
	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

	First round									Second round									Third round									Quarterfinals
	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

	First round									Second round									Third round									Quarterfinals
	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

	First round									Second round									Third round									Quarterfinals
	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

• 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