Two-time defending champion Ivan Lendl defeated Mats Wilander in the final, 6–7^(7–9), 6–0, 7–6^(7–4), 6–4 to win the men's singles tennis title at the 1987 US Open. It was his third US Open title and sixth major title overall. Despite the final only going four sets, and one of those sets being 6–0, the match lasted 4 hours and 47 minutes, with Lendl saving multiple set points in the third set.

The seeded players are listed below. Ivan Lendl is the champion; others show the round in which they were eliminated.

• Q = Qualifier
• WC = Wild card
• LL = Lucky loser
• r = Retired

	Quarterfinals									Semifinals									Final
	1	Ivan Lendl	6	6	6
	8	John McEnroe	3	3	4
										1	Ivan Lendl	6	6	6
										6	Jimmy Connors	4	2	2
	13	Brad Gilbert	6	3	4	0
	6	Jimmy Connors	4	6	6	6
																			1	Ivan Lendl	67	6	77	6
																			3	Mats Wilander	79	0	64	4
	5	Miloslav Mečíř	3	7	4	6
	3	Mats Wilander	6	6	6	7
										3	Mats Wilander	6	3	6	6
										2	Stefan Edberg	4	6	3	4
		Ramesh Krishnan	2	2	2
	2	Stefan Edberg	6	6	6

	First round									Second round									Third round									Fourth round
	1	Lendl	6	6	6
		Moir	0	0	0					1	Lendl	6	6	6
		Fleurian	6	7	6						Fleurian	4	2	2
		Colombo	0	5	1														1	Lendl	6	6	6
		Yunis	3	2	2															Pugh	1	1	2
		Pugh	6	6	6						Pugh	7	6	6
		Osterthun	5	3	2						Muller	5	3	4
		Muller	7	6	6																							1	Lendl	6	7	6
		Visser	5	6	2	5																						16	Järryd	2	6	4
		Freeman	7	4	6	7					Freeman	6	3	2	2
		Pistolesi	4	2	3						Mansdorf	2	6	6	6
		Mansdorf	6	6	6															Mansdorf	3	2	3
		Arias	6	7	2	6													16	Järryd	6	6	6
		Fleming	7	6	6	7					Fleming	3	4	2
	Q	Acuña	3	4	4					16	Järryd	6	6	6
	16	Järryd	6	6	6

	First round									Second round									Third round									Fourth round
	9	Gómez	7	6	7
		Schapers	6	4	5					9	Gómez	6	6	4	7
	WC	Burrow	3	7	3	2					Agénor	4	2	6	6
		Agénor	6	6	6	6													9	Gómez	1	6	6	6	6
		Lozano	6	2	4															Muster	6	7	3	3	3
		Muster	7	6	6						Muster	6	6	6	6	6
		Pernfors	3	0	r						Bergström	7	2	7	3	4
		Bergström	6	3																								9	Gómez	4	6	3
		Dyke	6	6	2	6																						8	McEnroe	6	7	6
		Purcell	4	3	6	2					Dyke	6	6	1	2	0
		Živojinović	6	6	6						Živojinović	2	4	6	6	6
		Mezzadri	3	0	4															Živojinović	4	7	7	4	3
		Reneberg	6	6	6														8	McEnroe	6	5	6	6	6
		Antonitsch	3	2	2						Reneberg	6	6	4	2
		Anger	3	2	2					8	McEnroe	7	2	6	6
	8	McEnroe	6	6	6

	First round									Second round									Third round									Fourth round
	4	Becker	4	4	7	6	6
		Wilkison	6	6	5	4	2			4	Becker	6	6	7
		Holmes	5	4	0						Canter	4	2	6
		Canter	7	6	6														4	Becker	6	5	6	7
		Tulasne	2	4	1														Q	Castle	4	7	2	5
		Brown	6	6	6						Brown	6	1	3
	Q	Castle	7	1	2	7	6			Q	Castle	7	6	6
		Pate	5	6	6	6	4																					4	Becker	6	7	6	5	1
		Seguso	6	5	3	2																						13	Gilbert	2	6	7	7	6
		Forget	3	7	6	6					Forget	7	4	4	6	6
		Benhabiles	6	3	6	6					Benhabiles	6	6	6	3	4
	WC	Parker	3	6	4	4														Forget	4	7	5	4
	Q	Gurfein	6	3	2	2													13	Gilbert	6	6	7	6
		Berger	4	6	6	6					Berger	6	2	4	3
		Doohan	1	2	2					13	Gilbert	4	6	6	6
	13	Gilbert	6	6	6

	First round									Second round									Third round									Fourth round
	11	Leconte	6	7	4	6
		Agassi	4	6	6	3				11	Leconte	6	6	6
	Q	Pozzi	6	6	6					Q	Pozzi	3	2	3
	Q	Sznajder	3	1	2														11	Leconte	6	6	6	6
	WC	Nelson	6	6	6	5	3													Odizor	7	2	1	2
		Odizor	2	2	7	7	6				Odizor	6	6	6	3	6
	WC	Chang	6	6	6	6				WC	Chang	1	2	7	6	4
		McNamee	3	7	4	4																						11	Leconte	7	4	4	3
	WC	Cannon	3	2	2																							6	Connors	6	6	6	6
		Grabb	6	6	6						Grabb	6	6	6
	Q	Smith	4	6	6	6				Q	Smith	0	1	3
		Vajda	6	2	2	4														Grabb	3	2	4
	Q	Hearn	4	7	6	6													6	Connors	6	6	6
		Stenlund	6	6	2	4				Q	Hearn	3	2	1
	WC	Rive	1	4	4					6	Connors	6	6	6
	6	Connors	6	6	6

	First round									Second round									Third round									Fourth round
	5	Mečíř	6	6	7
		Nováček	3	4	6					5	Mečíř	6	6	6
	Q	Williamson	3	5	4					Q	Fitzgerald	3	1	0
	Q	Fitzgerald	6	7	6														5	Mečíř	6	6	2	6
		Navrátil	4	6	1	6	7													Hlasek	4	4	6	4
		De Palmer	6	3	6	2	5				Navrátil	5	5	4
		Hlasek	3	6	2	6	6				Hlasek	7	7	6
		Davis	6	3	6	4	4																					5	Mečíř	6	3	6	6
	Q	Bourne	7	6	3	2	7																					Q	Woodforde	4	6	2	2
	Q	Volkov	5	2	6	6	5			Q	Bourne	6	6	7	5	3
		Šrejber	6	7	7	7					Šrejber	7	3	6	7	6
		Matuszewski	7	6	5	6														Šrejber	2	1	1
	Q	Woodforde	6	6	6														Q	Woodforde	6	6	6
		Scanlon	2	4	2					Q	Woodforde	7	7	3	2	7
		Giammalva Jr.	1	0	1					12	Mayotte	6	6	6	6	6
	12	Mayotte	6	6	6

	First round									Second round									Third round									Fourth round
	14	Sánchez	1	6	7	6
		Masur	6	4	6	3				14	Sánchez	6	6	6
	Q	Wheaton	5	7	3	4					Witsken	1	4	3
		Witsken	7	5	6	6													14	Sánchez	7	6	6	5
	Q	Cahill	6	7	6														WC	Flach	5	7	7	7
		Kures	2	5	4					Q	Cahill	6	4	6	1	6
		Duncan	2	6	0					WC	Flach	1	6	3	6	7
	WC	Flach	6	7	6																							WC	Flach	3	3	6
		Teltscher	5	3	6	6																						3	Wilander	6	6	7
		Pimek	7	6	1	7					Pimek	6	6	6
		Winogradsky	6	7	2	7					Winogradsky	4	0	4
	Q	Kennedy	4	5	6	6														Pimek	2	0	1
		Carlsson	6	6	6														3	Wilander	6	6	6
		Jones	2	1	3						Carlsson	2	3	1
	Q	Ross	1	1	1					3	Wilander	6	6	6
	3	Wilander	6	6	6

	First round									Second round									Third round									Fourth round
	7	Cash	4	6	4	4
		Lundgren	6	4	6	6					Lundgren	2	5	6	0
	LL	Hooper	4	1	4						Chesnokov	6	7	2	6
		Chesnokov	6	6	6															Chesnokov	6	6	6
		Casal	6	1	7	4	4													Pérez	1	2	2
		Pérez	1	6	5	6	6				Pérez	2	6	6	6
		Jelen	6	6	6						Jelen	6	2	4	3
		Orešar	3	2	4																								Chesnokov	4	1	2
		Testerman	6	3	1																								Krishnan	6	6	6
	WC	Leach	7	6	6					WC	Leach	3	6	6	3
		Kriek	6	6	6						Kriek	6	7	3	6
		Drewett	1	2	1															Kriek	3	4	3
		Annacone	0	5	1															Krishnan	6	6	6
		Krishnan	6	7	6						Krishnan	6	7	6
		Sánchez	6	6	6	3				10	Nyström	4	5	2
	10	Nyström	7	7	3	6

	First round									Second round									Third round									Fourth round
	15	Jaite	6	4	2
		Šmid	7	6	6						Šmid	3	4	1
		Högstedt	3	2	6						Yzaga	6	6	6
		Yzaga	6	6	7															Yzaga	6	4	6	2	2
		Donnelly	4	6	7	6	6													Svensson	2	6	3	6	6
		Limberger	6	7	5	4	4				Donnelly	4	6	6	2	6
		Svensson	5	6	6	7					Svensson	6	4	3	6	7
		Canè	7	4	2	6																							Svensson	2	6	3
		Saceanu	6	1	5	7	4																					2	Edberg	6	7	6
		Flur	0	6	7	6	6				Flur	6	6	6	4	3
		Evernden	6	6	7						Evernden	4	7	3	6	6
		Sundström	2	2	6															Evernden	2	1	4
		Goldie	3	6	7	6	6												2	Edberg	6	6	6
		Steyn	6	3	5	7	2				Goldie	7	4	2	4
		Rostagno	3	6	2					2	Edberg	6	6	6	6
	2	Edberg	6	7	6

• Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) – 1987 US Open Men's Singles draw
• 1987 US Open – Men's draws and results at the International Tennis Federation