William Renshaw defeated Richard Richardson 6–4, 6–2, 6–3 in the All Comers' Final, and then defeated the reigning champion John Hartley 6–0, 6–1, 6–1 in the challenge round to win the gentlemen's singles tennis title at the 1881 Wimbledon Championships.^[1][2]

	Challenge round
	William Renshaw		6	6	6
	John Hartley		0	1	1

	Quarterfinals									Semifinals									Final
	Otway Woodhouse		6	4	0	3
	William Renshaw		4	6	6	6				William Renshaw		1	6	6	5	6
	Herbert Lawford		6	6	6					Herbert Lawford		6	3	2	6	3
	George S. Murray Hill		1	1	0														William Renshaw		6	6	6
	William Henry Darby		0	4	1														Richard Richardson		4	2	3
	Richard Richardson		6	6	6					Richard Richardson
										bye
																			Second Place
																			Herbert Lawford		3	6	1	6	5
																			Richard Richardson		6	4	6	3	6

	First round									Second round									Third round									Quarterfinals
	Mortimer Buckingham		6	6	6
	Harry Grove		2	4	1					Mortimer D Buckingham		1	0	0
	Otway Woodhouse		6	6	6					O Woodhouse		6	6	6
	Hubert H. Wilkes		4	5	0														O Woodhouse		6	6	6
	WM Bird		0	0r															W Milne		1	0	1
	Wilfred Milne		6	5						W. Milne		6	5	6	6
	Mr. Castor		6	6	2	6				Castor		2	6	2	4
	Robert W. Braddell		5	3	6	4																						O Woodhouse		6	4	0	3
	William Renshaw		6	6	6																							W Renshaw		4	6	6	6
	William J. Down		2	0	0					W Renshaw		6	6	6
	Thomas Gallwey		4	6	6	6				T Gallwey		0	1	1
	Arthur Stanley		6	3	5	4													W Renshaw		6	6	6
	C Cheales		w/o																E Lubbock		5	3	3
	BT Cotton									C Cheales		0	0	1
	Edgar Lubbock		w/o							E Lubbock		6	6	6
	James Rankine

	First round									Second round									Third round									Quarterfinals
	F Pollock		2	2	2
	Champion Russell		6	6	6					Champion Russell		5	2	0
	HC Jenkins		w/o							HC Jenkins		6	6	6
	R Pollock																		HC Jenkins		4	3	0
	WH Edward		6	6	6														H Lawford		6	6	6
	JM Thornycroft		0	2	2					WH Edward		3	2	2
	Herbert Lawford		6	6	6					H Lawford		6	6	6
	CJ Cole		0	2	3																							H Lawford		6	6	6
	GS Murray-Hill		4	6	6	1	6																					GS Murray-Hill		1	1	0
	ES Saxton		6	1	1	6	4			GS Murray-Hill		6	6	4	3	6
	A Keyser		6	6	6					A Keyser		5	2	6	6	2
	C Wallis		3	5	2														GS Murray-Hill		6	2	6	6
	Minden Fenwick		6	6	2	6													Minden Fenwick		2	6	5	4
	HR Hallward		3	2	6	4				Minden Fenwick		6	2	6	0	6
	Arthur Chitty		6	2	6	6				A Chitty		3	6	5	6	1
	ML Hallward		2	6	5	4

	First round									Second round									Third round									Quarterfinals
	Henry Mulholland		2	6	6	0
	B Follett		6	3	1	0r				H Mulholland		3	5	2
	WH Darby		6	6	6					WH Darby		6	6	6
	FH Stokes		2	5	3														WH Darby		6	6	0	6
	FL Rawson		w/o																Pollux		5	5	6	3
	George Montgomerie									FL Rawson		5	4	0r
	Pollux		6	6	6					Pollux		6	6	0
	J Wilkes		3	4	4																							WH Darby		0	4	1
	Ernest Renshaw		6	6	6																							R Richardson		6	6	6
	John Galbraith Horn		2	2	4					E Renshaw		6	6	6
	JC Maxwell-Scott		6	1	6	6				JC Maxwell-Scott		0	0	3
	HB Porter		5	6	4	3													E Renshaw		6	5	4	5
	Michael G. McNamara		6	6	6														R Richardson		2	6	6	6
	William Taylor		2	4	1					MG MacNamara		2	1	2
	AH Cochran		0	1	2					R Richardson		6	6	6
	Richard Richardson		6	6	6

• Source for the draw at Wimbledon.com