title: 1981 World Championship Tennis Finals – Singles
text: # 1981 World Championship Tennis Finals – Singles
  
  Jimmy Connors was the defending champion but did not compete that year.
  
  John McEnroe won in the final 6–1, 6–2, 6–4 against Johan Kriek.
  
  ## Seeds
  
  A champion seed is indicated in bold text while text in italics indicates the round in which that seed was eliminated.
  
  * John McEnroe (champion)
  * Roscoe Tanner (semifinals)
  
  ## Draw
  
  ### Key
  
  * Q = Qualifier
  * WC = Wild card
  * LL = Lucky loser
  * Alt = Alternate
  * SE = Special exempt
  * PR = Protected ranking
  * ITF = ITF entry
  * JE = Junior exempt
  * w/o = Walkover
  * r = Retired
  * d = Defaulted
  * SR = Special ranking
  
  | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final | Final | Final | Final |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 1 | John McEnroe | 7 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
  | | Sandy Mayer | 5 | 4 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
  | | Sandy Mayer | 5 | 4 | 3 | | | 1 | John McEnroe | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | |
  | | | | | | | | | Brian Gottfried | 3 | 4 | 1 | | | | | | | |
  | | Brian Gottfried | 7 | 6 | 6 | | | | Brian Gottfried | 3 | 4 | 1 | | | | | | | |
  | | Sammy Giammalva Jr. | 5 | 3 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
  | | Sammy Giammalva Jr. | 5 | 3 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | 1 | John McEnroe | 6 | 6 | 6 |
  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Johan Kriek | 1 | 2 | 4 |
  | | Wojciech Fibak | 5 | 6 | 1 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Johan Kriek | 1 | 2 | 4 |
  | | Johan Kriek | 7 | 3 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
  | | Johan Kriek | 7 | 3 | 6 | 6 | | | Johan Kriek | $7^7$ | 6 | 4 | 0 | 6 | | | | | |
  | | | | | | | | 2 | Roscoe Tanner | $6^2$ | 3 | 6 | 6 | 4 | | | | | |
  | | Vijay Amritraj | 2 | 6 | 6 | $6^6$ | 4 | 2 | Roscoe Tanner | $6^2$ | 3 | 6 | 6 | 4 | | | | | |
  | 2 | Roscoe Tanner | 6 | 1 | 2 | $7^8$ | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
  