# 1981 in tennis

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For more important tennis events, see [1981 Grand Prix (tennis)](/source/1981_Grand_Prix_(tennis)) and [1981 WTA Tour](/source/1981_WTA_Tour).

Overview of the events of 1981 in tennis

Years in tennis ← 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 → 1981 in sports Air sports American football Aquatic sports Association football Athletics Australian rules football Badminton Baseball Basketball Canadian football Chess Climbing Combat sports Sumo Cricket 1980–81 1981 1981–82 Cycling Dance sports Darts Equestrianism Esports Field hockey Flying disc Golf Gymnastics Handball Ice hockey Ice sports Korfball Lumberjack sports Mind sports Modern pentathlon Motorsport Orienteering Paralympic sports Precision sports Shooting Racquetball Roller sports Sailing Skiing Speedway Rugby league‎ Rugby union Snooker 1980–81 1981–82 Strength sports Weightlifting Squash Table tennis Tennis Triathlon Volleyball

This page covers all the important events in the sport of **[tennis](/source/Tennis)** in [1981](/source/1981). It provides the results of notable tournaments throughout the year on both the [ATP](/source/Association_of_Tennis_Professionals) and [WTA](/source/Women's_Tennis_Association) Tours, the [Davis Cup](/source/Davis_Cup), and the [Fed Cup](/source/Billie_Jean_King_Cup).

## Australian Open

### Men's singles

Main article: [1981 Australian Open – Men's singles](/source/1981_Australian_Open_%E2%80%93_Men's_singles)

**[Johan Kriek](/source/Johan_Kriek)** defeated [Steve Denton](/source/Steve_Denton), 6–2, 7–6(7–1), 6–7(1–7), 6–4

- • It was Kriek's 1st career Grand Slam singles title.

### Women's singles

Main article: [1981 Australian Open – Women's singles](/source/1981_Australian_Open_%E2%80%93_Women's_singles)

**[Martina Navratilova](/source/Martina_Navratilova)** defeated [Chris Evert](/source/Chris_Evert), 6–7(4–7), 6–4, 7–5

- • It was Navratilova's 3rd career Grand Slam singles title and her 1st title at the Australian Open.

### Men's doubles

Main article: [1981 Australian Open – Men's doubles](/source/1981_Australian_Open_%E2%80%93_Men's_doubles)

**[Mark Edmondson](/source/Mark_Edmondson)** / **[Kim Warwick](/source/Kim_Warwick)** defeated [Hank Pfister](/source/Hank_Pfister) / [John Sadri](/source/John_Sadri) 6–3, 6–7, 6–3

- • It was Edmondson's 2nd career Grand Slam doubles title and his 2nd title at the Australian Open.

- • It was Warwick's 3rd career Grand Slam doubles title and his 3rd and last title at the Australian Open.

### Women's doubles

Main article: [1981 Australian Open – Women's doubles](/source/1981_Australian_Open_%E2%80%93_Women's_doubles)

**[Kathy Jordan](/source/Kathy_Jordan)** / **[Anne Smith](/source/Anne_Smith_(tennis))** defeated [Martina Navratilova](/source/Martina_Navratilova) / [Pam Shriver](/source/Pam_Shriver) 6–2, 7–5

- • It was Jordan's 4th career Grand Slam doubles title and her 1st and only title at the Australian Open.

- • It was Smith's 4th career Grand Slam doubles title and her 1st and only title at the Australian Open.

### Mixed doubles

- *The competition was not held between 1970 and 1986.*

## French Open

### Men's singles

Main article: [1981 French Open – Men's singles](/source/1981_French_Open_%E2%80%93_Men's_singles)

[Björn Borg](/source/Bj%C3%B6rn_Borg) defeated [Ivan Lendl](/source/Ivan_Lendl), 6–1, 4–6, 6–2, 3–6, 6–1 [1]

- It was Borg's 1st title of the year, and his 61st overall. It was his 11th (and last) career Grand Slam title, and his 6th French Open title (at that time, an Open Era record).

### Women's singles

Main article: [1981 French Open – Women's singles](/source/1981_French_Open_%E2%80%93_Women's_singles)

[Hana Mandlíková](/source/Hana_Mandl%C3%ADkov%C3%A1) defeated [Sylvia Hanika](/source/Sylvia_Hanika), 6–2, 6–4 [2]

- It was Mandlíková's 2nd title of the year, and her 13th overall. It was her 2nd career Grand Slam title, and her 1st French Open title.

### Men's doubles

Main article: [1981 French Open – Men's doubles](/source/1981_French_Open_%E2%80%93_Men's_doubles)

[Heinz Günthardt](/source/Heinz_G%C3%BCnthardt) / [Balázs Taróczy](/source/Bal%C3%A1zs_Tar%C3%B3czy) defeated [Terry Moor](/source/Terry_Moor) / [Eliot Teltscher](/source/Eliot_Teltscher), 6–2, 7–6, 6–3 [3]

### Women's doubles

Main article: [1981 French Open – Women's doubles](/source/1981_French_Open_%E2%80%93_Women's_doubles)

[Rosalyn Fairbank](/source/Rosalyn_Fairbank) / [Tanya Harford](/source/Tanya_Harford) defeated [Candy Reynolds](/source/Candy_Reynolds) / [Paula Smith](/source/Paula_Smith), 6–1, 6–3 [2]

### Mixed doubles

Main article: [1981 French Open – Mixed doubles](/source/1981_French_Open_%E2%80%93_Mixed_doubles)

[Andrea Jaeger](/source/Andrea_Jaeger) / [James Arias](/source/Jimmy_Arias) defeated [Betty Stöve](/source/Betty_St%C3%B6ve) / [Frederick McNair](/source/Fred_McNair), 7–6, 6–4 [2]

## Wimbledon

#### Men's singles

Main article: [1981 Wimbledon Championships – Men's singles](/source/1981_Wimbledon_Championships_%E2%80%93_Men's_singles)

**[John McEnroe](/source/John_McEnroe)** defeated [Björn Borg](/source/Bj%C3%B6rn_Borg), 4–6, 7–6(7–1), 7–6(7–4), 6–4[4]

- It was McEnroe's 3rd career Grand Slam title and his 1st Wimbledon title.

#### Women's singles

Main article: [1981 Wimbledon Championships – Women's singles](/source/1981_Wimbledon_Championships_%E2%80%93_Women's_singles)

**[Chris Evert Lloyd](/source/Chris_Evert)** defeated [Hana Mandlíková](/source/Hana_Mandl%C3%ADkov%C3%A1), 6–2, 6–2[5]

- It was Evert-Lloyd's 12th career Grand Slam title and her third and last Wimbledon title.

#### Men's doubles

Main article: [1981 Wimbledon Championships – Men's doubles](/source/1981_Wimbledon_Championships_%E2%80%93_Men's_doubles)

**[Peter Fleming](/source/Peter_Fleming_(tennis))** / **[John McEnroe](/source/John_McEnroe)** defeated [Bob Lutz](/source/Bob_Lutz_(tennis)) / [Stan Smith](/source/Stan_Smith), 6–4, 6–4, 6–4[6]

- It was Fleming's 3rd career Grand Slam title and his 2nd Wimbledon title. It was McEnroe's 7th career Grand Slam title and his 3rd Wimbledon title.

#### Women's doubles

Main article: [1981 Wimbledon Championships – Women's doubles](/source/1981_Wimbledon_Championships_%E2%80%93_Women's_doubles)

**[Martina Navratilova](/source/Martina_Navratilova)** / **[Pam Shriver](/source/Pam_Shriver)** defeated [Kathy Jordan](/source/Kathy_Jordan) / [Anne Smith](/source/Anne_Smith_(tennis)), 6–3, 7–6(8–6)[7]

- It was Navratilova's 11th career Grand Slam title and her 5th Wimbledon title. It was Shriver's 1st career Grand Slam title and her 1st Wimbledon title.

#### Mixed doubles

Main article: [1981 Wimbledon Championships – Mixed doubles](/source/1981_Wimbledon_Championships_%E2%80%93_Mixed_doubles)

**[Frew McMillan](/source/Frew_McMillan)** / **[Betty Stöve](/source/Betty_St%C3%B6ve)** defeated [John Austin](/source/John_Austin_(tennis)) / [Tracy Austin](/source/Tracy_Austin), 4–6, 7–6(7–2), 6–3[8]

- It was McMillan's 10th and last career Grand Slam title and his 5th Wimbledon title. It was Stöve's 10th and last career Grand Slam title and her 3rd Wimbledon title.

## US Open

### Men's singles

Main article: [1981 US Open – Men's singles](/source/1981_US_Open_%E2%80%93_Men's_singles)

**[John McEnroe](/source/John_McEnroe)** defeated [Björn Borg](/source/Bj%C3%B6rn_Borg) 4–6, 6–2, 6–4, 6–3

- It was McEnroe's 4th career Grand Slam title and his 3rd US Open title.

### Women's singles

Main article: [1981 US Open – Women's singles](/source/1981_US_Open_%E2%80%93_Women's_singles)

**[Tracy Austin](/source/Tracy_Austin)** defeated [Martina Navratilova](/source/Martina_Navratilova) 1–6, 7–6(7–4), 7–6(7–1)

- It was Austin's 2nd and last career Grand Slam title and her 2nd US Open title.

### Men's doubles

Main article: [1981 US Open – Men's doubles](/source/1981_US_Open_%E2%80%93_Men's_doubles)

**[Peter Fleming](/source/Peter_Fleming_(tennis))** / **[John McEnroe](/source/John_McEnroe)** defeated [Heinz Günthardt](/source/Heinz_G%C3%BCnthardt) / [Peter McNamara](/source/Peter_McNamara) by [walkover](/source/Walkover_(tennis))

- It was Fleming's 4th career Grand Slam title and his 2nd US Open title. It was McEnroe's 9th career Grand Slam title and his 4th US Open title.

### Women's doubles

Main article: [1981 US Open – Women's doubles](/source/1981_US_Open_%E2%80%93_Women's_doubles)

**[Kathy Jordan](/source/Kathy_Jordan)** / **[Anne Smith](/source/Anne_Smith_(tennis))** defeated [Rosemary Casals](/source/Rosemary_Casals) / [Wendy Turnbull](/source/Wendy_Turnbull) 6–3, 6–3

- It was Jordan's 3rd career Grand Slam title and her only US Open title. It was Smith's 4th career Grand Slam title and her 1st US Open title.

### Mixed doubles

Main article: [1981 US Open – Mixed doubles](/source/1981_US_Open_%E2%80%93_Mixed_doubles)

**[Anne Smith](/source/Anne_Smith_(tennis))** / **[Kevin Curren](/source/Kevin_Curren)** defeated [JoAnne Russell](/source/JoAnne_Russell) / [Steve Denton](/source/Steve_Denton) 6–4, 7–6(7–4)

- It was Smith's 5th career Grand Slam title and her 2nd US Open title. It was Curren's 1st career Grand Slam title and his 1st US Open title.

## [Davis Cup](/source/Davis_Cup)

First round 6–8 March Quarterfinals 9–12 July Semifinals 2–4 October Final 11–13 December Munich, West Germany (indoor carpet) West Germany 2 Timișoara, Romania (hard) Argentina 3 Argentina 3 Timișoara, Romania (indoor hard) Romania 2 Romania 3 Buenos Aires, Argentina (clay) Brazil 2 Argentina 5 Brighton, United Kingdom (indoor carpet) Great Britain 0 Great Britain 3 Christchurch, New Zealand (carpet) Italy 2 Great Britain 4 Seoul, South Korea (clay) New Zealand 1 South Korea 0 Cincinnati, OH, United States (indoor carpet) New Zealand 5 Argentina 1 Yokohama, Japan (indoor carpet) United States 3 Japan 0 Båstad, Sweden (clay) Sweden 5 Sweden 1 Lyon, France (indoor carpet) Australia 3 France 2 Portland, OR, United States (indoor carpet) Australia 3 Australia 0 Zürich, Switzerland (indoor hard) United States 5 Switzerland 2 New York, NY, United States (hard) Czechoslovakia 3 Czechoslovakia 1 Carlsbad, CA, United States (hard) United States 4 United States 3 Mexico 2

## [Federation Cup](/source/Billie_Jean_King_Cup)

First Round Second Round Quarterfinals Semifinals Final United States 3 South Korea 0 United States 3 Spain 0 Spain 2 Mexico 1 United States 3 Romania 0 Indonesia 0 Israel 3 Israel 0 Romania 3 Hungary 0 Romania 3 United States 3 Switzerland 0 Switzerland 3 Greece 0 Switzerland 3 Chinese Taipei 0 New Zealand 1 Chinese Taipei 2 Switzerland 2 West Germany 1 Brazil 3 Ireland 0 Brazil 0 West Germany 2 Japan 0 West Germany 3 United States 3 Great Britain 0 Czechoslovakia 3 Sweden 0 Czechoslovakia 1 Soviet Union 2 Denmark 0 Soviet Union 3 Soviet Union 1 Great Britain 2 France 3 Canada 0 France 0 Great Britain 3 Belgium 0 Great Britain 3 Great Britain 2 Australia 1 Netherlands 2 Hong Kong 1 Netherlands 2 Italy 1 Italy 2 Yugoslavia 1 Netherlands 0 Australia 3 Thailand 0 China 3 China 0 Australia 3 Philippines 0 Australia 3

## Notes

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-ms_1-0)** ["ATP – 1981 Roland Garros Men's Singles Draw"](http://www.atpworldtour.com/Share/Event-Draws.aspx?Year=1981&EventId=520&Draw=ms). ATP.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-wta_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-wta_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-wta_2-2) ["WTA Tournament Archive – 1981 Roland Garros"](http://www.wtatennis.com/SEWTATour-Archive/Archive/Draws/1981/903.pdf) (PDF). WTA.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-md_3-0)** ["ATP – 1981 Roland Garros Men's Doubles Draw"](http://www.atpworldtour.com/Share/Event-Draws.aspx?Year=1981&EventId=520&Draw=md). ATP.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-menss_4-0)** ["Gentlemen's Singles Finals 1877–2017"](http://www.wimbledon.com/en_GB/roll_of_honour/gentlemenssingles.html). *wimbledon.com*. [Wimbledon Championships](/source/The_Championships%2C_Wimbledon). Retrieved July 22, 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-womenss_5-0)** ["Ladies' Singles Finals 1884–2017"](http://www.wimbledon.com/en_GB/roll_of_honour/ladiessingles.html). *wimbledon.com*. [Wimbledon Championships](/source/The_Championships%2C_Wimbledon). Retrieved July 22, 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-mensd_6-0)** ["Gentlemen's Doubles Finals 1884–2017"](http://www.wimbledon.com/en_GB/roll_of_honour/gentlemensdoubles.html). *wimbledon.com*. [Wimbledon Championships](/source/The_Championships%2C_Wimbledon). Retrieved July 22, 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-womensd_7-0)** ["Ladies' Doubles Finals 1913–2017"](http://www.wimbledon.com/en_GB/roll_of_honour/ladiesdoubles.html). *wimbledon.com*. [Wimbledon Championships](/source/The_Championships%2C_Wimbledon). Retrieved July 22, 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-mixedd_8-0)** ["Mixed Doubles Finals 1913–2017"](http://www.wimbledon.com/en_GB/roll_of_honour/mixeddoubles.html). *wimbledon.com*. [Wimbledon Championships](/source/The_Championships%2C_Wimbledon). Retrieved July 22, 2017.

## External links

- [Tennis portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Tennis)
- [Sport portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Sport)

- [Official website of the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP)](http://www.atpworldtour.com/)

- [Official website of the Women's Tennis Association (WTA)](http://www.wtatennis.com/)

- [Official website of the International Tennis Federation (ITF)](http://www.itftennis.com/)

- [Official website of the International Team Competition in Men's Tennis (Davis Cup)](http://www.daviscup.com/en/home.aspx)

- [Official website of the International Team Competition in Women's Tennis (Fed Cup)](http://www.fedcup.com/en/home.aspx)

v t e Years in tennis 1877 1878 1879 1880 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026

v t e « 1980 1981 in tennis 1982 » Grand Slam French Open Wimbledon Championships US Open Australian Open Tours Men Volvo Grand Prix Volvo Masters Women WTA Tour Avon Championships Toyota Series Championships National teams Men Davis Cup (World Group) World Team Cup Women Federation Cup Wightman Cup

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [1981 in tennis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1981_in_tennis) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1981_in_tennis?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.