Singles
1881 U.S. National Championships
Champion	Richard Sears
Runner-up	William Glyn
Score	6–0, 6–3, 6–2
Draw	25

Richard Sears defeated William Glyn in the final, 6–0, 6–3, 6–2 to win the inaugural men's singles tennis title at the 1881 U.S. National Championships. Except for the final, each match was played on the best of three sets. Winner of a set was the player who won six games first; no two-games advantage was required. The participation was restricted to USNLTA club members only.^[1]

Draw

Finals

	Quarterfinals							Semifinals							Finals
	Richard Sears		6	6
	Crawford Nightingale		3	5
								Richard Sears		6	6
								Edward Gray		3	0
	Edward Gray
	bye
															Richard Sears		6	6	6
															William Glyn		0	3	2
	William Glyn		6	4	6
	William Gammell		4	6	4
								William Glyn		6	6
								Samuel Shaw		2	2
	Samuel Shaw		4	6	6
	Kessler		6	3	1

Top half

	First round							Second round							Quarterfinals							Semifinals
	RD Sears		6	6
	HW Powell		0	2				RD Sears		6	6
	Anderson		6	6				Anderson		1	2
	Randolph		2	0											RD Sears		6	6
	CA Nightingale		6	6											CA Nightingale		3	5
	Caldwell		2	0				CA Nightingale		6	6
	WH Barnes		6	1	6			WH Barnes		4	3
	Miller		2	6	1																	RD Sears		6	6
	EH Gray		6	6																		EH Gray		3	0
	FJ Hines		5	3				EH Gray		6	6
	Coggswell		6	6				Coggswell		0	0
	Congdon		4	5											EH Gray
															bye

Bottom half

	First round							Second round							Quarterfinals							Semifinals
	WE Glyn		1	6	6
	AL Rives		6	1	1			WE Glyn		6	6
	RF Conover		6	6				RF Conover		5	2
	EL Morse		1	1											WE Glyn		6	4	6
	W Gammell		1	6	6										W Gammell		4	6	4
	AE Newbold		6	3	1			W Gammell
								bye
																						WE Glyn		6	6
																						S Shaw		2	2
								S Shaw		6	6
	Rathbone		6	5	6			Rathbone		3	5
	FN Saunders		5	6	5										S Shaw		4	6	6
	Kessler		6	6											Kessler		6	3	1
	F Eldridge		1	4				Kessler		6	6
	WW Smith							WW Smith		1	2
	Pruyn		w/o

References

• Albiero, Alessandro; Carta, Andrea (2010). The Grand Slam Record Book Vol. 1. Monte Porzio Catone: Effepi Libri. p. 569. ISBN 978-88-6002-017-8.