1981 Australian Open – Men's singles

April 2026 1981 Australian Open ZAF 1928 Johan Kriek USA Steve Denton 6–2, 7–6(7–1), 6–7(1–7), 6–4 64 16 Australian Open – Men's singles Australian Open – Men's singles 1981 Australian Open 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, becoming the first South African to win a singles major. Kriek was making his tournament debut. Brian Teacher was the reigning 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. ARG Guillermo Vilas (third round) AUS Peter McNamara (quarterfinals) USA Roscoe Tanner (second round) ZAF 1928 Johan Kriek (champion) AUS Kim Warwick (quarterfinals) AUS Mark Edmondson (semifinals) USA Fritz Buehning (first round) USA Tim Mayotte (quarterfinals) ISR Shlomo Glickstein (quarterfinals) USA John Sadri (first round) NZL Chris Lewis (third round) USA Hank Pfister (semifinals) USA Pat DuPré (third round) ZAF 1928 Kevin Curren (second round) USA Peter Rennert (second round) AUS John Fitzgerald (first round) Qualifying 1981 Australian Open – Men's singles qualifying Draw Key Q = Qualifier WC = Wild card LL = Lucky loser r = Retired Final eight 160 USA Steve Denton 2 6 7 4 ZAF 1928 Johan Kriek 4 6 7 6 6 USA Hank Pfister 12 6 7 1 6 3 USA Steve Denton 7 6 6 3 6 ZAF 1928 Johan Kriek 4 6 7 7 AUS Mark Edmondson 6 0 6 5 USA Hank Pfister 12 6 4 6 6 AUS Kim Warwick 5 1 6 4 3 ISR Shlomo Glickstein 9 4 6 6 0 USA Steve Denton 6 3 7 6 USA Tim Mayotte 8 6 3 5 ZAF 1928 Johan Kriek 4 7 6 7 AUS Mark Edmondson 6 7 7 6 AUS Peter McNamara 2 5 6 3 Section 1 First round Second round Third round Quarterfinals USA H Pfister 12 6 4 6 6 AUS K Warwick 5 1 6 4 3 ARG G Vilas 1 3 4 4 USA H Pfister 12 6 6 6 AUS P Dent 3 3 0 AUS K Warwick 5 6 6 6 ARG G Vilas 1 6 6 6 6 USA L Stefanki 7 3 4 4 SWE H Simonsson 2 0 2 USA H Pfister 12 6 6 6 AUS P Dent 7 6 7 AUS C Fancutt 6 4 6 USA J Gurfein 5 2 5 AUS K Warwick 5 7 6 7 ARG G Vilas 1 6 6 7 SWE J Nyström 4 2 6 AUS W Masur Q 6 4 6 2 6 USA L Stefanki 4 6 2 6 7 SWE H Simonsson 6 7 6 6 USA R Hightower 4 6 7 3 USA L Bourne 6 6 3 6 1 USA H Pfister 12 3 7 6 2 6 AUS J Fitzgerald 16 7 6 6 3 4 AUS P Dent 5 3 7 6 6 AUS C Fancutt 3 6 6 6 AUS C Johnstone 6 4 3 0 USA J Gurfein 6 7 6 AUS W Pascoe Q 3 6 3 AUS B Drewett 4 1 2 AUS K Warwick 5 6 6 6 Section 2 First round Second round Third round Quarterfinals ISR S Glickstein 9 4 6 6 0 USA S Denton 6 3 7 6 AUS R Frawley 2 3 2 ISR S Glickstein 9 6 6 6 USA S Denton 6 4 7 7 7 AUS J Alexander 7 6 6 5 6 USA R Tanner 3 3 6 4 3 AUS R Frawley 6 4 6 6 FRA J Potier 3 4 2 ISR S Glickstein 9 6 6 6 ZAF 1928 K Curren 14 7 6 3 2 2 USA S Denton 6 3 6 6 6 FRA T Tulasne 4 1 3 AUS J Alexander 6 6 6 USA R Tanner 3 6 6 6 AUS G Whitecross 3 3 3 AUS R Frawley 2 6 6 3 6 GBR A Jarrett 6 2 1 6 3 USA D Siegler 6 6 3 3 3 FRA J Potier 3 1 6 6 6 USA C Dunk 4 6 5 ISR S Glickstein 9 6 7 7 ZAF 1928 K Curren 14 6 6 6 USA S Krulevitz 2 2 1 ZAF 1928 E Edwards 6 7 3 6 3 USA S Denton 7 6 6 4 6 FRA T Tulasne 6 6 7 NZL O Parun 3 4 5 AUS J Alexander 2 6 3 6 7 USA F Buehning 7 6 4 6 1 6 Section 3 First round Second round Third round Quarterfinals USA T Mayotte 8 6 3 5 ZAF 1928 J Kriek 4 7 6 7 USA T Mayotte 8 7 7 6 USA P DuPré 13 6 5 4 NZL C Lewis 11 5 5 6 6 4 ZAF 1928 J Kriek 4 7 7 3 2 6 USA T Mayotte 8 7 6 6 USA R Van't Hof 6 3 3 NZL R Simpson 4 4 2 USA P DuPré 13 6 6 6 NZL C Lewis 11 6 6 6 USA M Davis 4 3 3 SWE T Högstedt Q 2 4 6 ZAF 1928 J Kriek 4 6 6 7 USA T Mayotte 8 6 6 6 USA E Sherbeck Q 2 3 1 USA R Van't Hof 6 6 1 4 6 USA T Wilkison 3 3 6 6 3 NZL R Simpson 6 7 6 6 6 AUS D Collings Q 7 5 7 4 4 AUS B Guan 4 7 6 3 3 USA P DuPré 13 6 6 4 6 6 NZL C Lewis 11 6 6 6 ROU 1965 I Năstase 4 3 2 GBR J Smith 2 6 7 4 1 USA M Davis 6 7 6 6 6 SWE T Högstedt Q 7 6 6 USA S McCain 5 4 2 USA D Gitlin Q 2 5 1 ZAF 1928 J Kriek 4 6 7 6 Section 4 First round Second round Third round Quarterfinals AUS M Edmondson 6 7 7 6 AUS P McNamara 2 5 6 3 AUS M Edmondson 6 6 6 6 AUS C Letcher Q 2 0 3 AUS P Kronk 6 2 2 6 3 AUS P McNamara 2 1 6 6 4 6 AUS M Edmondson 6 5 1 7 7 6 AUS S Ball 7 6 5 5 4 USA J Delaney 6 6 6 6 4 AUS C Letcher Q 7 7 4 3 6 USA P Rennert 15 6 1 3 AUS P Kronk 7 6 6 GBR R Lewis 6 6 5 4 2 AUS P McNamara 2 3 4 7 6 6 AUS M Edmondson 6 6 6 6 AUS P Cash 1 2 3 AUS S Ball 6 6 4 7 USA S Meister Q 2 4 6 6 USA J Delaney 6 3 6 7 USA M Mitchell Q 4 6 3 6 AUS C Letcher Q 3 6 6 6 USA J Sadri 10 6 3 4 4 USA P Rennert 15 6 6 3 6 AUS CA Miller 2 2 6 3 AUS P Kronk 3 6 6 7 SWE M Wilander 6 3 4 5 GBR R Lewis 7 6 6 USA C Wittus 6 4 0 AUS D Carter 0 2 2 AUS P McNamara 2 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 1981 US Open Grand Slam men's singles 1982 French Open Mens singles Mens singles Category:Australian Open (tennis) by year – Men's singles