| Score: | 6–2, 6–2 |
| Draw: | 96 (8 / 6) |
| Seeds: | 16 |
| Before Name: | Wimbledon Championships – Women's singles |
| After Name: | Wimbledon Championships – Women's singles |
| Type: | grand slam |
See main article: 1981 Wimbledon Championships.
Chris Evert Lloyd defeated Hana Mandlíková in the final, 6–2, 6–2 to win the ladies' singles tennis title at the 1981 Wimbledon Championships. It was her third Wimbledon singles title and her twelfth major singles title, surpassing Margaret Court's Open Era record.[1]
Evonne Goolagong Cawley was the reigning champion, but did not compete due to pregnancy.
See also: 1 and 1. 
Chris Evert Lloyd (champion)
See also: 2 and 8. Hana Mandlíková (final)
See also: 3 and 3. Tracy Austin (quarterfinals)
See also: 4 and 6. Martina Navratilova (semifinals)
See also: 5 and 2. Andrea Jaeger (fourth round)
See also: 6 and 7. 
Wendy Turnbull (quarterfinals)
See also: 7 and 4. Pam Shriver (semifinals)
See also: 8 and 5. Virginia Ruzici (quarterfinals)
See also: 9 and 8. Sylvia Hanika (first round)
See also: 10 and 2. Mima Jaušovec (quarterfinals)
See also: 11 and 1. Dianne Fromholtz (third round)
See also: 12 and 5. Kathy Jordan (fourth round)
See also: 13 and 6. Bettina Bunge (second round)
See also: 14 and 3. Barbara Potter (fourth round)
See also: 15 and 4. Regina Maršíková (first round)
See also: 16 and 7. JoAnne Russell (first round)
Hana Mandlíková was seeded second, higher than her then current ranking of 5th at the start of the championship, due to her victories in the previous two grand slam singles events in Australia and France. Although perfectly within their remit and rights to alter the seedings from the rankings as they saw fit, the All England Club were petitioned by the WTA, which complained about the arrangement.
See main article: 1981 Wimbledon Championships – Women's singles qualifying.