See main article: 1981 French Open.
Three-time defending champion Björn Borg defeated Ivan Lendl in the final, 6–1, 4–6, 6–2, 3–6, 6–1 to win the men's singles tennis title at the 1981 French Open. It was his sixth French Open title and his eleventh and last major title overall. The final was played on June 7, the day after Borg's 25th birthday.
The seeded players are listed below. Björn Borg is the champion; others show the round in which they were eliminated.
Björn Borg (champion)
Jimmy Connors (quarterfinals) John McEnroe (quarterfinals) Gene Mayer (third round)
Guillermo Vilas (fourth round) José Luis Clerc (semifinals) Harold Solomon (first round) Vitas Gerulaitis (first round) Eliot Teltscher (first round)
Yannick Noah (quarterfinals) Brian Gottfried (third round)
Peter McNamara (fourth round)
Wojtek Fibak (fourth round)
Balázs Taróczy (quarterfinals) Eddie Dibbs (third round)