Singles
1981 South American Championships
1980 Champion	José Luis Clerc
Champion	Ivan Lendl
Runner-up	Guillermo Vilas
Score	6–2, 6–2

José Luis Clerc was the defending champion but did not compete that year.

Ivan Lendl won in the final 6–2, 6–2 against Guillermo Vilas.

Seeds

A champion seed is indicated in bold text while text in italics indicates the round in which that seed was eliminated.

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

	First round							Second round							Quarterfinals							Semifinals							Final
	1	I Lendl	6	6
		Á Giménez	3	4				1	I Lendl	6	6
		M Orantes	6	6					M Orantes	4	0
		M Hocevar	2	3											1	I Lendl	6	7
		D Pérez	6	6												D Pérez	4	5
	Q	H Roverano	3	3					D Pérez	2	6	6
		P Arraya	2	5				6	J L Damiani	6	2	4
	6	J L Damiani	6	7																		1	I Lendl	7	6
	3	V Pecci	7	3	1																		P Rebolledo	5	0
		P Rebolledo	5	6	6				P Rebolledo	6	6
		R Ycaza	6	6					R Ycaza	1	1
		E Bengoechea	4	4												P Rebolledo	6	6
		J López-Maeso	6	7											8	A Gómez	1	0
		G Aubone	4	5					J López-Maeso	5	2
	Q	B Prajoux	1	2				8	A Gómez	7	6
	8	A Gómez	6	6																									1	Ivan Lendl	6	6
	7	J Higueras	6	3	6																								2	Guillermo Vilas	2	2
		G Urpí	2	6	4			7	J Higueras	3	1
		A Maurer	1	6	7				A Maurer	6	6
		K Eberhard	6	1	5											A Maurer	7	6
		J Aguilera	6	6											Q	J Aguilera	5	1
		J Soares	1	2				Q	J Aguilera	2	6	7
		F Luna	4	7	0			4	H Gildemeister	6	0	5
	4	H Gildemeister	6	6	6																		A Maurer	4	4
	5	R Gehring	1	6	6																	2	G Vilas	6	6
		B Boileau	6	3	4			5	R Gehring	7	7
		J Fillol	6	6					J Fillol	6	6
		F González	2	3											5	R Gehring	7	5	5
		R Argüello	6	6											2	G Vilas	5	7	7
		G Tiberti	2	3					R Argüello
		R Cano	4	6				2	G Vilas
	2	G Vilas	6	7

External links

• 1981 South American Championships Singles draw