Men's singles
1978 Australian Open
Champion	Guillermo Vilas
Runner-up	John Marks
Score	6–4, 6–4, 3–6, 6–3
Draw	64
Seeds	16

Guillermo Vilas defeated John Marks in the final, 6–4, 6–4, 3–6, 6–3 to win the men's singles tennis title at the 1978 Australian Open. It was his first Australian Open title and third major singles title overall.

Vitas Gerulaitis was the reigning champion, but did not compete this year.

This tournament was the final major appearance for former four-time champion Ken Rosewall.

Seeds

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

Qualifying

Draw

Finals

	Quarterfinals									Semifinals									Final
	1	Guillermo Vilas	3	6	3	6	6
	11	Tony Roche	6	1	6	3	2
										1	Guillermo Vilas	6	6	6
										9	Hank Pfister	2	0	4
		Paul Kronk	5	3	3
	9	Hank Pfister	7	6	6
																			1	Guillermo Vilas	6	6	3	6
																				John Marks	4	4	6	3
	12	Peter Feigl	6	2	6	2	7
	3	Arthur Ashe	4	6	4	6	9
										3	Arthur Ashe	4	2	6	6	7
											John Marks	6	6	2	1	9
	6	John Alexander	4	4	5
		John Marks	6	6	7

Section 1

	First round									Second round									Third round									Quarterfinals
	1	G Vilas	6	6	6	7
		T Rocavert	3	7	3	6				1	G Vilas	6	6	6
		B Drewett	4	6	6	6					B Drewett	4	4	3
		R Ruffels	6	4	2	1													1	G Vilas	6	6	6
		M Edmondson	3	6	6	7													16	A Stone	4	4	4
		B Fairlie	6	2	1	6					M Edmondson	4	6	3	4
		T Wilkison	3	2	3					16	A Stone	6	3	6	6
	16	A Stone	6	6	6																							1	G Vilas	3	6	3	6	6
	11	T Roche	6	6	6																							11	T Roche	6	1	6	3	2
		I Țiriac	3	0	3					11	T Roche	6	6	6
		G Hardie	6	6	6	6					G Hardie	3	4	4
		A Gardiner	7	2	4	1													11	T Roche	6	6	6
	Q	D Collings	6	4	6	6													Q	D Collings	1	2	3
		G Moretton	4	6	4	3				Q	D Collings	6	3	6	7
		S Menon	6	6	2					8	V Amaya	4	6	3	6
	8	V Amaya	7	7	6

Section 2

	First round									Second round									Third round									Quarterfinals
	4	T Gullikson	6	6	7
		P McNamee	2	2	6					4	T Gullikson	2	3	6
		C Kachel	2	7	2	2					P McNamara	6	6	7
		P McNamara	6	5	6	6														P McNamara	2	2	5
	Q	J DiLouie	6	6	6															P Kronk	6	6	7
		R Frawley	3	2	1					Q	J DiLouie	6	5	4	6	1
		P Kronk	7	2	6	6					P Kronk	2	7	6	4	6
	14	G Masters	5	6	3	1																							P Kronk	5	3	3
	9	H Pfister	6	6	6																							9	H Pfister	7	6	6
		J Smith	3	2	2					9	H Pfister	7	6	4	3	8
		R Drysdale	3	2	4						S Docherty	5	3	6	6	6
		S Docherty	6	6	6														9	H Pfister	6	7	6
		D Carter	4	0	7	6	2												5	W Fibak	3	6	1
		J James	6	6	6	4	6				J James	2	2	6	3
		D Whyte	4	1	2					5	W Fibak	6	6	4	6
	5	W Fibak	6	6	6

Section 3

	First round									Second round									Third round									Quarterfinals
	7	K Rosewall	6	6	6
	Q	C Stansbury	2	4	3					7	K Rosewall	2	7	7	7
		R Lewis	7	2	1	4					S Stewart	6	6	5	6
		S Stewart	6	6	6	6													7	K Rosewall	6	6	5	4	8
		I El Shafei	7	4	3	7	7												12	P Feigl	2	4	7	6	10
		B Giltinan	6	6	6	6	9				B Giltinan	2	6	5	1
		C Dibley	4	6	4	6				12	P Feigl	6	3	7	6
	12	P Feigl	6	1	6	7																						12	P Feigl	6	2	6	2	7
	13	K Warwick	6	6	6																							3	A Ashe	4	6	4	6	9
		C Freyss	4	4	4					13	K Warwick	7	6	6
		D Crealy	6	7	6						D Crealy	6	1	3
	Q	W Maher	4	5	3														13	K Warwick	6	2	5	6	3
		R Moore	7	4	6	6													3	A Ashe	2	6	7	4	6
	Q	R Krishnan	5	6	2	2					R Moore	4	4	3
		B Kleege	3	3	6					3	A Ashe	6	6	6
	3	A Ashe	6	6	7

Section 4

	First round									Second round									Third round									Quarterfinals
	6	J Alexander	6	7	6
		P Campbell	4	6	4					6	J Alexander	6	6	6
		DR Bohrnstedt	2	2	3						R Simpson	3	3	4
		R Simpson	6	6	6														6	J Alexander	6	6	6
	Q	A Jarrett	2	3	2															B Carmichael	3	2	2
		B Carmichael	6	6	6						B Carmichael	6	2	7	6
		C Letcher	3	3	7	1				15	B Mitton	4	6	6	3
	15	B Mitton	6	6	5	6																						6	J Alexander	4	4	5
	10	Y Noah	6	6	3	3	1																						J Marks	6	6	7
		R Case	4	4	6	6	6				R Case	1	4	1
		J Sadri	6	7	6						J Sadri	6	6	6
	Q	N Phillips	3	6	4															J Sadri	2	2	6	4
		P Dent	7	2	1	6	6													J Marks	6	6	4	6
		P Portes	6	6	6	2	1				P Dent	7	3	2	2
		J Marks	6								J Marks	6	6	6	6
	2	JL Clerc	7	r.

External links

• Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) – 1978 Australian Open Men's Singles draw
• 1978 Australian Open – Men's draws and results at the International Tennis Federation