Second-seeded Roy Emerson defeated Rod Laver 1–6, 6–3, 7–5, 6–4 in the final to win the men's singles tennis title at the 1961 Australian Championships.
The seeded players are listed below. Roy Emerson is the champion; others show the round in which they were eliminated.
Rod Laver (finalist) Roy Emerson (champion) Bob Mark (third round) Bob Hewitt (third round)
Mike Sangster (quarterfinals) Bob Howe (third round) Fred Stolle (semifinals) Wayne Reid (third round) Ken Fletcher (quarterfinals)
Sergio Tacchini (second round) Barry Phillips-Moore (semifinals)