1981 Australian Open – Men's singles

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
Details
Draw	64
Seeds	16
Events
Singles men women Doubles men women WC Singles WC Doubles Legends
← 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.

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

Seeds[]

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

Qualifying[]

Draw[]

Key[]

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

Final eight[]

	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

Section 1[]

	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

Section 2[]

	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

Section 3[]

	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

Section 4[]

	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

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