1981 US Open – Women's singles

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 →

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 and second and last major singles title.

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.

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

This edition of the US Open was the first time that the women's singles tournament featured a 128-player draw.

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

	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

	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

	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

	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

	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

	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

	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

	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

	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

• Evert–Navratilova rivalry

• 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 1981 Australian Open – Women's singles