1961 French Championships – Men's singles
# 1961 French Championships – Men's singles

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.

* Nicola Pietrangeli (final)
* Rod Laver (semifinals)
* Roy Emerson (quarterfinals)
* Jan-Erik Lundqvist (semifinals)
* Pierre Darmon (third round)
* Manuel Santana (champion)
* Ron Holmberg (quarterfinals)
* Robert Wilson (fourth round)
* Robert Mark (second round)
* Jacques Brichant (fourth round)
* Ulf Schmidt (first round)
* Bob Hewitt (fourth round)
* Mario Llamas (fourth round)
* Orlando Sirola (third round)
* Ronald Barnes (fourth round)
* Lew Gerrard (second round)

## Draw

### Key

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

### Finals

| Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final | Final | Final | Final | Final | Final |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Nicola Pietrangeli | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Gérard Pilet | 4 | 8 | 3 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Gérard 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 | | 4 | Jan-Erik Lundqvist | 4 | 4 | 4 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Carlos Fernandes | 4 | 4 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 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 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 6 | Manuel Santana | 4 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 6 |
| 3 | Roy Emerson | 7 | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 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 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 0 | | | | | | | |
| 2 | Rod Laver | 6 | 6 | 3 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

### Earlier rounds

**Section 1**

| Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth 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**

| Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth 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**

| Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth 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 | First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth 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 | First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth 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 | First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth 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**

| Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth 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**

| Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth 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 | | | | | | | | | | | |
