Hana Mandlíková defeated Sylvia Hanika in the final, 6–2, 6–4 to win the women's singles tennis title at the 1981 French Open.^[1] It was her second major singles title.

Chris Evert was the two-time defending champion, but lost in the semifinals to Mandlíková. It was her first defeat at the event since 1973, and the first time in six tournament appearances that she failed to reach the final.

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

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

	Quarterfinals							Semifinals							Finals
	1	Chris Evert	6	6
	5	Virginia Ruzici	4	4
								1	Chris Evert	5	4
								4	Hana Mandlíková	7	6
	4	Hana Mandlíková	6	6
		Kathy Rinaldi	1	3
															4	Hana Mandlíková	6	6
															6	Sylvia Hanika	2	4
	7	Mima Jaušovec	6	2	0
	3	Andrea Jaeger	4	6	6
								3	Andrea Jaeger	6	1	4
								6	Sylvia Hanika	4	6	6
	6	Sylvia Hanika	6	6
	2	Martina Navratilova	2	4

	First round							Second round							Third round							Fourth round
	1	Evert	6	6
		Kohde-Kilsch	3	2				1	Evert	6	6
									Casabianca	4	0
															1	Evert	6	6
																Pfaff	3	1
									Pfaff	6	6
		Margolin	7	4	6				Margolin	4	0
		Gulley	5	6	4																	1	Evert	6	6
		Jordan	6	6																		16	Wade	3	0
		Barker	3	0					Jordan	3	3
									Kuczyńska	6	6
																Kuczyńska	1	3
		Fairbank	6	6											16	Wade	6	6
		Ekblom	4	4					Fairbank	5	2
								16	Wade	7	6

	First round							Second round							Third round							Fourth round
	13	White	7	6
		Nagelsen	6	4				13	White	6	5
									Teeguarden	7	7
																Teeguarden	4	6	6
																Casale	6	2	2
									Casale	6	6
		Delhees	6	6					Delhees	3	2
		Jolissaint	0	0																			Teeguarden	3	3
																						5	Ruzici	6	6
									Harrington	6	5	6
		Smith	4	6	7				Smith	4	7	3
		Stöve	6	4	5											Harrington	1	7	0
		Schutte	7	1	10										5	Ruzici	6	6	6
		Thibault	5	6	8				Schutte	3	3
								5	Ruzici	6	6

	First round							Second round							Third round							Fourth round
	4	Mandlíková	6	6
		Romanov	2	1				4	Mandlíková	6	6
									Casals	2	1
															4	Mandlíková	4	6	6
																Vásquez	6	0	4
									Vásquez	6	7
		Jones	7	6					Jones	1	5
		Gregory	5	3																		4	Mandlíková	6	6
		Horvath	6	3	6																	10	Bunge	3	1
		Gadusek	3	6	2				Horvath	5	6	6
									O'Neil	7	4	0
																Horvath	3	7	2
															10	Bunge	6	5	6
									Desfor	1	2
	10	Bunge	6	6				10	Bunge	6	6
		Durie	2	3

	First round							Second round							Third round							Fourth round
								11	Smith	4	6	6
		Pinterová	6	0	6				Pinterová	6	3	1
		Lee	1	6	1										11	Smith	6	6
																Collins	4	4
									Portman	6	2
		Collins	6	6					Collins	7	6
		Amiach	3	2																		11	Smith	1	6	3
																							Rinaldi	6	4	6
									DuVall	6	1	0
		Rinaldi	6	6					Rinaldi	4	6	6
		Perea	0	3												Rinaldi	6	7
		Sandin	6	6											8	Fromholtz	3	5
		Freeman	1	2					Sandin	2	5
								8	Fromholtz	6	7

	First round							Second round							Third round							Fourth round
	7	Jaušovec	6	4	6
		Villiger	2	6	0			7	Jaušovec	6	6
									Buchanan	0	2
															7	Jaušovec	6	6
																Giussani	0	3
									Giussani	6	7	6
		Sato	6	7	7				Sato	7	5	1
		Latham	7	5	5																	7	Jaušovec	6	6
																							Reynolds	3	2
									Sands	2	1
		Reynolds	7	6					Reynolds	6	6
		Rollinson	5	2												Reynolds	2	7	6
		Strachoňová	7	6											9	Jordan	6	5	2
		Gilbert	5	4					Strachoňová	6	6	4
								9	Jordan	4	7	6

	First round							Second round							Third round							Fourth round
								14	Madruga	6	6
		Van der Torre	7	6					Van der Torre	1	1
		Harford	5	1											14	Madruga	6	4	3
																Bohm	2	6	6
									Bohm	6	6
		Tomanová	6	6					Tomanová	3	3
		Du Pont	3	1																			Bohm	2	4
																						3	Jaeger	6	6
									Blount	2	1
		Vermaak	7	6					Vermaak	6	6
		Budařová	5	1												Vermaak	1	2
															3	Jaeger	6	6
									Coles	1	0
	3	Jaeger	4	7	6			3	Jaeger	6	6
		Temesvári	6	6	3

	First round							Second round							Third round							Fourth round
								6	Hanika	6	4	6
		Jevans	6	7					Jevans	2	6	3
		Lovera	4	5											6	Hanika	6	6
																Rossi	3	2
									Medrado	6	6	1
		Rossi	6	6					Rossi	4	7	6
		Lewis	3	2																		6	Hanika	6	6
		Piatek	6	6																		12	Maršíková	1	3
		Skronská	4	2					Piatek	3	6	6
									Vessies	6	2	2
																Piatek	6	5	5
		Monteiro	6	7											12	Maršíková	2	7	7
		Brzáková	2	6					Monteiro	1	1
								12	Maršíková	6	6

	First round							Second round							Third round							Fourth round
								15	Allen	6	6
		Minter	4	7	6				Minter	4	2
		Simon	6	5	3										15	Allen	6	7
		Remilton	6	6												Remilton	1	6
		Eisterlehner	4	2					Remilton	7	4	8
									Hobbs	6	6	6
																						15	Allen	1	2
		White	6	6																		2	Navratilova	6	6
		Franch	4	2					White	1	6	6
									Tobin	6	3	2
																White	1	1
		Riedel-Kühn	6	4	6										2	Navratilova	6	6
		Gurdal	0	6	1				Riedel-Kühn	4	0
								2	Navratilova	6	6

• 1981 French Open – Women's draws and results at the International Tennis Federation