Men's singles
1961 Australian Championships
Champion	Roy Emerson
Runner-up	Rod Laver
Score	1–6, 6–3, 7–5, 6–4
Draw	44
Seeds	12

Second-seeded Roy Emerson defeated Rod Laver 1–6, 6–3, 7–5, 6–4 in the final to win the men's singles tennis title at the 1961 Australian Championships.

Seeds

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

Draw

Finals

	Quarterfinals									Semifinals									Final
	1	Rod Laver	6	2
	10	Ken Fletcher	2	4r
										1	Rod Laver	6	6	6
										12	Barry Phillips-Moore	2	2	4
	12	Barry Phillips-Moore	5	6	6	6
	6	Christian Kuhnke	7	3	2	3
																			1	Rod Laver	6	3	5	4
																			2	Roy Emerson	1	6	7	6
	5	Mike Sangster	3	4	3
	8	Fred Stolle	6	6	6
										8	Fred Stolle	6	2	5
										2	Roy Emerson	8	6	7
		John Pearce	1	2	3
	2	Roy Emerson	6	6	6

Earlier rounds

Section 1

	First round									Second round									Third round									Quarterfinals
										1	Laver	6	6	6
											O'Kane	2	3	0
																			1	Laver	6	6	9
																				Coghlan	4	1	7
											Tan	1	2	1
											Coghlan	6	6	6
																												1	Laver	6	2
																												10	Fletcher	2	4r
										10	Fletcher	6	6	3	6
											Ryan	3	2	6	1
																			10	Fletcher	6	6	6
																				Shapter	3	2	3
											Shapter	6	8	8	4	6
											Hearnden	3	10	6	6	1

Section 2

	First round									Second round									Third round									Quarterfinals
										7	Howe	6	6	7
											Potter	1	4	5
																			7	Howe	2	9	6	6
		Nette	6	6	6														12	Phillips-Moore	6	11	3	8
		Pearson	3	0	1						Nette	5	2	2
	12	Phillips-Moore	6	3	6	6				12	Phillips-Moore	7	6	6
		French	2	6	2	3																						12	Phillips-Moore	5	6	6	6
	4	Hewitt	6	7	6																							6	Kuhnke	7	3	2	3
		Fraser	1	5	1					4	Hewitt	6	6	0	7
		Hann	6	2	6	7					Hann	4	4	6	5
		Pares	1	6	2	5													4	Hewitt	1	4	6	3
		Hughes	6	6	8	6													6	Kuhnke	6	6	1	6
		Johnson	2	3	10	1					Hughes	6	6	4
	6	Kuhnke	6	1	6	6				6	Kuhnke	8	8	6
		McPherson	4	6	3	0

Section 3

	First round									Second round									Third round									Quarterfinals
	5	Sangster	6	6	6
		McKenzie	2	2	2					5	Sangster	3	10	6	2	6
		Stubs	6	6	8						Stubs	6	8	4	6	2
		Azman	0	1	6														5	Sangster
		Mulligan	6	6	6														3	Mark	w/o
		Graham-Jones	3	2	2						Mulligan	3	3	4
	3	Mark	6	6	6					3	Mark	6	6	6
		Hillebrand	1	4	0																							5	Sangster	3	4	3
	11	Tacchini	6	6	6																							8	Stolle	6	6	6
		Millen	1	1	0					11	Tacchini	5	2	5
		Tobin	6	6	6						Tobin	7	6	7
		Shepherd	3	3	2															Tobin	3	3	3
																			8	Stolle	6	6	6
											Reid	13	4	3
										8	Stolle	15	6	6

Section 4

	First round									Second round									Third round									Quarterfinals
											Pearce	6	6	6
											Gibson	4	3	4
																				Pearce	6	6	6
																			9	Reid	2	2	0
											Holland	7	1	3
										9	Reid	9	6	6
																													Pearce	1	2	3
																												2	Emerson	6	6	6
											Kearney	4	6	6	6
											Stephens	6	4	2	0
																				Kearney	1	2	7
																			2	Emerson	6	6	9
											Hicks	1	1	2
										2	Emerson	6	6	6

External links

• 1961 Australian Championships on ITFtennis.com Archived 2016-03-16 at the Wayback Machine, the source for this draw