Sixth-seeded Manuel Santana defeated Nicola Pietrangeli 4–6, 6–1, 3–6, 6–0, 6–2 in the final to win the men's singles tennis title at the 1961 French Championships. Santana became the first Spaniard to win a Grand Slam tournament singles title.

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

^[1]

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

	Quarterfinals									Semifinals									Final
	1	Nicola Pietrangeli	6	6	6	6
		Gérard Pilet	4	8	3	1
										1	Nicola Pietrangeli	6	6	6
										4	Jan-Erik Lundqvist	4	4	4
	4	Jan-Erik Lundqvist	6	6	6
		Carlos Fernandes	4	4	3
																			1	Nicola Pietrangeli	6	1	6	0	2
																			6	Manuel Santana	4	6	3	6	6
	6	Manuel Santana	9	6	6
	3	Roy Emerson	7	2	2
										6	Manuel Santana	3	6	4	6	6
										2	Rod Laver	6	2	6	4	0
	7	Ron Holmberg	4	0	6	3
	2	Rod Laver	6	6	3	6

	First round									Second round									Third round									Fourth round
										1	Pietrangeli	6	6	6
											Contet	2	3	4
																			1	Pietrangeli	6	6	6
																				Newcombe	2	2	4
											Ulrich
											Newcombe
																												1	Pietrangeli	6	6	6	8
																													Pilić	4	8	3	6
										16	Gerrard	3	6	4	2
											Belkhodja	6	4	6	6
																				Belkhodja	4	6	1	2
																				Pilić	6	1	6	6
											Pilić	6	4	4	6	6
											Gibson	2	6	6	3	1

	First round									Second round									Third round									Fourth round
										8	Wilson	6	6	6
											Morea	4	2	2
																			8	Wilson	6	6	6
																				Jauffret	2	3	3
											Mandarino	7	3	4	6
											Jauffret	5	6	6	8
																												8	Wilson	6	5	1
																													Pilet	8	7	6
										9	Mark	3	6	6	2
											Skonecki	6	3	8	6
																				Skonecki	2	2	6
																				Pilet	6	6	8
											Henry	6	4	6	3
											Pilet	1	6	8	6

	First round									Second round									Third round									Fourth round
										4	Lundqvist
											Grandet
																			4	Lundqvist	6	6	6
																				Barrett	3	1	3
											Gaertner	6	4	4	4
											Barrett	2	6	6	6
																												4	Lundqvist	6	3	8	6
																												13	Llamas	4	6	6	3
										13	Llamas	6	6	6
											Licis	4	2	3
																			13	Llamas	6	6	6
																				Buding	3	3	3
											Buding	6	6	4	6
											Boutboul	3	3	6	1

	First round									Second round									Third round									Fourth round
	5	Darmon	6	6	6
		Godbout	2	2	2					5	Darmon	6	6	6
		Pickard	6	6	5	1	6				Pickard	1	3	2
		Ecklebe	3	1	7	6	3												5	Darmon	3	3	2
		Fernandes	6	6	6															Fernandes	6	6	6
		Bresson	4	4	2						Fernandes	7	6	6
		Rodríguez	6	3	6	2	2				Howe	5	3	2
		Howe	4	6	4	6	6																						Fernandes	9	2	6	6
	12	Hewitt	3	6	6	6																						12	Hewitt	7	6	2	2
		Kuhnke	6	2	4	3				12	Hewitt	3	3	6	7	6
		Plećević	1	5	0						Mayers	6	6	2	5	3
		Mayers	6	7	6														12	Hewitt	6	3	6	6
		Otway	4	6	6	6														Mulligan	3	6	1	2
		Mukerjea	6	0	3	2					Otway	5	4	5
		Mulligan	0	4	6	7	6				Mulligan	7	6	7
		Gasiorek	6	6	4	5	4

	First round									Second round									Third round									Fourth round
		Jovanović	6	2	6	6	6
		Bungert	8	6	0	4	4				Jovanović	2	9	2
		Stolle	4	5	2						Stolle	6	11	6
		Molinari	6	7	5	r														Stolle	1	3	3
		Lall	4	10	3															Sangster	6	6	6
		Sangster	6	12	6						Sangster	6	6	0	6
		Pimentel	6	6	6						Pimentel	3	4	6	4
	11	Schmidt	3	1	0																								Sangster	3	4	3
		Sanders	4	3	4																							6	Santana	6	6	6
		Álvarez	6	6	6						Álvarez	7	6	6	6
		Tacchini	6	2	5	6	6				Tacchini	5	8	1	4
		Renavand	4	6	7	4	0													Álvarez	4	1	3
		Garrido																	6	Santana	6	6	6
		Gulyás									Gulyás	3	1	3
		Bey	2	6	1	3				6	Santana	6	6	6
	6	Santana	6	1	6	6

	First round									Second round									Third round									Fourth round
		Swann	1	0	7
		Phillips-Moore	6	6	9						Phillips-Moore	6	7	7
											Duxin	4	5	5
																				Phillips-Moore	6	6	6
																			14	Sirola	3	3	0
											Ulrich
										14	Sirola
																													Phillips-Moore	2	6	3	2
																												3	Emerson	6	4	6	6
											Coni	3	3	2
											Barclay	6	6	6
																				Barclay	5	1	0
																			3	Emerson	7	6	6
											Hann	4	4	2
										3	Emerson	6	6	6

	First round									Second round									Third round									Fourth round
											Segal	6	6	6
											Gaudenzi	2	3	3
																				Segal	3	1	3
																			10	Brichant	6	6	6
											Jalabert	3	1	6	2
										10	Brichant	6	6	0	6
																												10	Brichant	6	6	4	3
																												7	Holmberg	2	8	6	6
											Lahcen Chaldi	6	6	2	9
											Presecki	3	2	6	7
																				Lahcen Chaldi	6	1	0	3
																			7	Holmberg	3	6	6	6
											Jauffret	3	8	4
										7	Holmberg	6	10	6

	First round									Second round									Third round									Fourth round
											Fletcher	6	6	6
											Grinda	3	2	4
																				Fletcher	3	2	5
																			15	Barnes	6	6	7
											Javorský	4	1	0
										15	Barnes	6	6	6
																												15	Barnes	3	6	2	3
																												2	Laver	6	4	6	6
											Mills	2	3	4
											Soriano	6	6	6
																				Soriano	2	3	8
																			2	Laver	6	6	10
											Ali	2	2	2
										2	Laver	6	6	6

• "Official 1961 Men's Draw" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2007-04-29. (109 KiB) on the French Open website