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
Champion	Tracy Austin
Runner-up	Martina Navratilova
Score	1–6, 7–6(7–4), 7–6(7–1)
Draw	128
Seeds	16

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

This edition of the US Open was the first time that the women's singles tournament featured a 128-player 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	64	61
															3	Tracy Austin	1	77	77
	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	3r
		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