1981 US Open – Women's singles

Tracy Austin defeated Martina Navratilova in the final, 1–6, 7–6^(7–4), 7–6^(7–1) to win the women's singles tennis title at the 1981 US Open. It was her second US Open title.

Women's singles
1981 US Open
Final
Champion	Tracy Austin
Runner-up	Martina Navratilova
Score	1–6, 7–6^(7–4), 7–6^(7–1)
Details
Draw	128
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 · US Open · 1982 →

Main article: 1981 US Open (tennis)

Chris Evert was the defending champion, but lost in the semifinals to Navratilova. The loss ended Evert's streak of six consecutive US Open finals.

Seeds

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

1.   Chris Evert (semifinalist)
2.   Andrea Jaeger (second round)
3.   Tracy Austin (champion)
4.   Martina Navratilova (finalist)
5.   Hana Mandlíková (quarterfinalist)
6.   Sylvia Hanika (quarterfinalist)
7.   Wendy Turnbull (third round)
8.   Pam Shriver (fourth round)
9.   Virginia Ruzici (third round)
10.   Mima Jaušovec (second round)
11.   Barbara Potter (semifinalist)
12.   Bettina Bunge (fourth round)
13.   Regina Maršíková (first round)
14.   Kathy Jordan (fourth round)
15.   Sue Barker (second round)
16.   Dianne Fromholtz (first round)

Qualifying

Main article: 1981 US Open – Women's singles qualifying

Draw

Key

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

Final eight

	Quarterfinals							Semifinals							Finals
	1	Chris Evert	6	6
	5	Hana Mandlíková	1	3
								1	Chris Evert	5	6	4
								4	Martina Navratilova	7	4	6
	4	Martina Navratilova	7	6
		Anne Smith	5	4
															4	Martina Navratilova	6	6	6
															3	Tracy Austin	1	7	7
	6	Sylvia Hanika	4	3
	3	Tracy Austin	6	6
								3	Tracy Austin	6	6
								11	Barbara Potter	1	3
	Q	Barbara Gerken	5	5
	11	Barbara Potter	7	7

Earlier rounds

Section 1

	First round							Second round							Third round							Fourth round
	1	Evert	6	6
		Keil	1	1				1	Evert	6	6
		Latham	6	6					Latham	0	1
		Saliba	1	2											1	Evert	6	6
		Louie	6	6												Moulton	3	0
		Jevans	3	0					Louie	3	5
		Moulton	6	6					Moulton	6	7
		Stöve	2	0																		1	Evert	6	6
		Jones	6	6																		12	Bunge	2	0
		Pinterová	3	4					Jones	1	1
	Q	Thompson	6	6				Q	Thompson	6	6
		Collins	4	3											Q	Thompson	6	6	3
		Kiyomura	7	7											12	Bunge	2	7	6
		Van der Torre	5	5					Kiyomura	3	6	3
	12	Bunge	6	6				12	Bunge	6	3	6
		Louie	2	1

Section 2

	First round							Second round							Third round							Fourth round
	9	Ruzici	6	6
		White	2	1				9	Ruzici	5	7	6
		Burgin	6	6					Burgin	7	5	2
		Antonoplis	3	3											9	Ruzici	1	6	5
		Mascarin	3	6	6											Lee	6	4	7
		Yeargin	6	2	4				Mascarin	7	4	6
		Lee	6	6					Lee	6	6	7
		Leo	3	4																			Lee	1	0
		Jordan	7	6																		5	Mandlíková	6	6
	Q	Hutnick	5	1					Jordan	3	6
		Coles	6	6					Coles	6	7
		McInerney	3	0												Coles	2	1
		Reynolds	6	6											5	Mandlíková	6	6
		Sands	3	0					Reynolds	4	4
	5	Mandlíková	6	7	6			5	Mandlíková	6	6
		Piatek	7	6	3

Section 3

	First round							Second round							Third round							Fourth round
	4	Navratilova	6	6
		Gregory	0	1				4	Navratilova	6	6
		White	4	6	6				White	2	3
		Pasquale	6	1	2										4	Navratilova	6	6
		Blackwood	6	6												Russell	2	1
		Steinmetz	4	4					Blackwood	2	4
		Russell	1	6	6				Russell	6	6
		Bonder	6	3	3																	4	Navratilova	6	6
		Harford	6	6																		14	Jordan	0	1
		Brzáková	4	2					Harford	2	6	6
		Vanier	1	6	6				Vanier	6	2	7
		Allen	6	2	3											Vanier	2	1
		Tanvier	6	5	6										14	Jordan	6	6
		Vásquez	2	7	1				Tanvier	1	1
	14	Jordan	6	6				14	Jordan	6	6
		Little	0	1

Section 4

	First round							Second round							Third round							Fourth round
		Smith	6	6
	16	Fromholtz	3	3					Smith	6	6
		McCallum	6	6					McCallum	0	0
		Preyer	2	3												Smith	6	6
		Doherty	7	6												Portman	1	0
		Sato	5	1					Doherty	5	6
		Portman	6	7					Portman	7	6
	LL	Davis	2	5																			Smith	6	1	7
		Tomanová	6	6																		8	Shriver	4	6	5
		Forood	3	3					Tomanová	6	6
		Nelson	6	1	7				Nelson	4	2
		Herr	2	6	6											Tomanová	3	2
		DuVall	3	6	6										8	Shriver	6	6
		Margolin	6	4	0				DuVall	0	3
	8	Shriver	6	6				8	Shriver	6	6
		Gilbert	1	0

Section 5

	First round							Second round							Third round							Fourth round
	6	Hanika	6	6
		Remilton	2	2				6	Hanika	7	6
		Blount	6	6					Blount	5	2
	LL	Gordon	2	0											6	Hanika	4	6	6
		Mesker	6	6												Mesker	6	1	2
		Skronská	3	2					Mesker	6	6
		Vessies	6	6					Vessies	2	2
		Fernandez	4	4																		6	Hanika	6	7
		Mundel	7	6																			Walsh	2	5
	Q	Hepner	5	1					Mundel	1	3
		Wade	6	6	6				Wade	6	6
		Teeguarden	3	7	2											Wade	5	6	3
		Walsh	6	6												Walsh	7	4	6
		Cummings	1	3					Walsh	5	6
	15	Barker	6	4	6			15	Barker	7	3^r
		duPont	4	6	3

Section 6

	First round							Second round							Third round							Fourth round
		Casals	6	6
	13	Maršíková	2	2					Casals	6	6
	LL	Appelbaum	4	6	6			LL	Appelbaum	0	2
		Sayers	6	3	2											Casals	3	6	6
		Morrison	0	6	6											Acker	6	1	4
		Minter	6	3	3				Morrison	4	6
		Acker	7	6					Acker	6	6
		Dent	6	4																			Casals	1	3
		Casale	6	6																		3	Austin	6	6
		Budařová	2	1					Casale	6	6
	Q	Gompert	7	6				Q	Gompert	4	0
		Medrado	5	3												Casale	3	0
		Nagelsen	7	6											3	Austin	6	6
		Baily	5	3					Nagelsen	3	0
	3	Austin	6	6				3	Austin	6	6
		Hobbs	1	2

Section 7

	First round							Second round							Third round							Fourth round
	7	Turnbull	3	6	6
		Garrison	6	3	2			7	Turnbull	6	6
		Romanov	2	6	6				Romanov	1	3
	Q	Mochizuki	6	1	0										7	Turnbull	5	3
	Q	Gerken	6	6											Q	Gerken	7	6
		Fairbank	3	4				Q	Gerken	6	7
		Buchanan	6	6					Buchanan	4	5
		Pfaff	3	2																		Q	Gerken	7	6
		Hallquist	6	3	6																		Durie	6	1
		Lewis	4	6	2				Hallquist	3	3
		Durie	6	6					Durie	6	6
		Desfor	3	3												Durie	6	3	6
		Horvath	7	3	7											Horvath	4	6	4
		Rinaldi	5	6	5				Horvath	6	6	6
	10	Jaušovec	6	6				10	Jaušovec	3	7	3
		Arraya	2	2

Section 8

	First round							Second round							Third round							Fourth round
	11	Potter	6	6	6
		Kohde	7	1	2			11	Potter	6	6
		Rollinson	6	6					Rollinson	3	2
	Q	Brasher	4	2											11	Potter	4	6	7
		Morse	6	6												Morse	6	2	5
		Freeman	3	2					Morse	6	6
		Smith	6	6					Smith	2	4
		Gerulaitis	4	4																		11	Potter	6	7	6
		Vermaak	2	6	6																		Leand	7	6	3
		Norton	6	1	2				Vermaak	4	6	6
		Harrington	6	6					Harrington	6	1	6
	LL	Klein	0	3												Harrington	4	3
		Leand	6	2	7											Leand	6	6
		Richards	4	6	5				Leand	1	7	6
	2	Jaeger	6	6				2	Jaeger	6	5	3
	Q	Calleja	1	0

See also

• Evert–Navratilova rivalry

External links

• 1981 US Open – Women's draws and results at the International Tennis Federation

Preceded by 1981 Wimbledon Championships – Women's singles

Grand Slam women's singles

Succeeded by 1982 Australian Open – Women's singles