1961 French Championships – Men's singles

Men's singles
1961 French Championships
Champion	Manuel Santana
Runner-up	Nicola Pietrangeli
Final score	4–6, 6–1, 3–6, 6–0, 6–2

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.

Seeds

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

1. Nicola Pietrangeli (final)
2. Rod Laver (semifinals)
3. Roy Emerson (quarterfinals)
4. Jan-Erik Lundqvist (semifinals)
5. Pierre Darmon (third round)
6. Manuel Santana (champion)
7. Ron Holmberg (quarterfinals)
8. Robert Wilson (fourth round)
9. Robert Mark (second round)
10. Jacques Brichant (fourth round)
11. Ulf Schmidt (first round)
12. Bob Hewitt (fourth round)
13. Mario Llamas (fourth round)
14. Orlando Sirola (third round)
15. Ronald Barnes (fourth round)
16. Lew Gerrard (second round)

Draw

Key

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

Finals

	Quarterfinals									Semifinals									Finals
	1	Nicola Pietrangeli	6	6	6	6
		Gerard 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

Earlier rounds

Section 1

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

Section 2

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

Section 3

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

Section 4

	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

Section 5

	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

Section 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

Section 7

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

Section 8

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

External links

•  (109 KiB) on the French Open website

Preceded by 1961 Australian Championships – Men's singles

Grand Slam men's singles

Succeeded by 1961 Wimbledon Championships – Men's singles