1981 Australian Open – Women's singles

Martina Navratilova defeated Chris Evert in the final, 6–7^(4–7), 6–4, 7–5 to win the women's singles tennis title at the 1981 Australian Open. It was her first Australian Open singles title and third major singles title overall. Evert was attempting to complete the career Grand Slam (she would achieve the feat the following year).

Women's singles
1981 Australian Open
Champion	Martina Navratilova
Runner-up	Chris Evert
Score	6–7(4–7), 6–4, 7–5
Draw	56 (8 Q )
Seeds	14

Main article: 1981 Australian Open

Hana Mandlíková was the defending champion, but was defeated in the quarterfinals by Evert.

Seeds

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

1. Chris Evert (finalist)
2. Tracy Austin (quarterfinals)
3. Martina Navratilova (champion)
4. Andrea Jaeger (quarterfinals)
5. Hana Mandlíková (quarterfinals)
6. Pam Shriver (semifinals)
7. Wendy Turnbull (semifinals)
8. Evonne Goolagong (quarterfinals)
9. Barbara Potter (second round)
10. Mima Jaušovec (third round)
11. Virginia Ruzici (first round)
12. Bettina Bunge (third round)
13. Sue Barker (third round)
14. Kathy Jordan (third round)

Qualifying

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

Draw

Key

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

Finals

	Quarterfinals							Semifinals							Finals
	1	Chris Evert	6	7
	5	Hana Mandlíková	4	5
								1	Chris Evert	6	77
								7	Wendy Turnbull	4	61
	4	Andrea Jaeger	3	610
	7	Wendy Turnbull	6	712
															1	Chris Evert	77	4	5
															3	Martina Navratilova	64	6	7
	8	Evonne Goolagong	3	1
	3	Martina Navratilova	6	6
								3	Martina Navratilova	6	7
								6	Pam Shriver	3	5
	6	Pam Shriver	7	77
	2	Tracy Austin	5	64

Earlier rounds

Section 1

	First round							Second round							Third round							Quarterfinals
								1	C Evert	6	6
		B Gadusek	6	6					B Gadusek	2	1
		D Fromholtz	3	1											1	C Evert	6	6
		B Stöve	6	6												C Reynolds	4	2
	Q	H Lütten	2	4					B Stöve	5	3
		C Reynolds	6	6					C Reynolds	7	6
		C Kohde-Kilsch	1	2																		1	C Evert	6	7
	9	B Potter	6	6																		5	H Mandlíková	4	5
	Q	K Skronská	4	2				9	B Potter	4	3
	Q	H Suková	6	6				Q	H Suková	6	6
		A Smith	4	1											Q	H Suková	2	1
		N Yeargin	7	6											5	H Mandlíková	6	6
		P Smith	6	3					N Yeargin	2	3
								5	H Mandlíková	6	6

Section 2

	First round							Second round							Third round							Quarterfinals
								4	A Jaeger	6	6
		A Hobbs	6	2	6				A Hobbs	3	1
		I Villiger	1	6	2										4	A Jaeger	6	7
		E Pfaff	3	6	6										13	S Barker	4	5
		R Casals	6	4	4				E Pfaff	3	6	2
		A Minter	1	3				13	S Barker	6	1	6
	13	S Barker	6	6																		4	A Jaeger	6	712
	12	B Bunge	6	6																		7	W Turnbull	3	610
	Q	B Remilton	0	0				12	B Bunge	6	6
		A Kiyomura	6	7					A Kiyomura	0	4
		R Fairbank	2	5											12	B Bunge	6	2	1
		A White	6	6											7	W Turnbull	3	6	6
		C Vanier	3	3					A White	2	6	3
								7	W Turnbull	6	4	6

Section 3

	First round							Second round							Third round							Quarterfinals
								8	E Goolagong	5	6	6
		L Allen	6	6					L Allen	7	3	4
	Q	K Gulley	1	2											8	E Goolagong	6	6
		S Walsh	6	7											10	M Jaušovec	3	1
		M Pinterová	1	5					S Walsh	6	2	3
		N Gregory	3	3				10	M Jaušovec	4	6	6
	10	M Jaušovec	6	6																		8	E Goolagong	3	1
	14	K Jordan	4	6	6																	3	M Navratilova	6	6
		P Teeguarden	6	3	3			14	K Jordan	6	7
		B Nagelsen	7	6					B Nagelsen	4	5
		M L Piatek	5	1											14	K Jordan	5	6	2
	Q	A Tobin	6	7											3	M Navratilova	7	3	6
		S Acker	4	5				Q	A Tobin	0	1
								3	M Navratilova	6	6

Section 4

	First round							Second round							Third round							Quarterfinals
								6	P Shriver	6	6
		D Desfor	4	6	6				D Desfor	1	2
		R Blount	6	1	1										6	P Shriver	6	6
		J Durie	6	6												J Durie	3	2
		B Hallquist	4	1					J Durie	6	7
		L Antonoplis	6	6					L Antonoplis	0	6
	11	V Ruzici	3	4																		6	P Shriver	7	77
		M Blackwood	6	6																		2	T Austin	5	64
		R Tomanová	4	3					M Blackwood	4	6	6
		S Saliba	6	3	7				S Saliba	6	3	2
	Q	C Tanvier	2	6	6											M Blackwood	3	5
		S Leo	7	6											2	T Austin	6	7
	Q	K Steinmetz	6	4					S Leo	1	1
								2	T Austin	6	6

See also

• Evert–Navratilova rivalry

External links

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

Preceded by 1981 US Open – Women's singles

Grand Slam women's singles

Succeeded by 1982 French Open – Women's singles