1981 Avon Championships of Detroit – Singles

Billie Jean King was the defending champion.

Unseeded Leslie Allen won the title, defeating top-seeded Hana Mandlíková in the final 6–4, 6–4.^[1][2]

A champion seed is indicated in bold text while text in italics indicates the round in which that seed was eliminated.

	Semifinals							Final
	1	Hana Mandlíková	6	6
	3	Pam Shriver	0	2
								1	Hana Mandlíková	4	4
									Leslie Allen	6	6
		Leslie Allen	2	7	6
		Barbara Potter	6	6	4

	First round							Second round							Quarterfinals							Semifinals
	1	Hana Mandlíková	6	6
		Iva Budařová	1	1				1	Hana Mandlíková	6	6
		Nina Bohm	6	4					Lisa Bonder	1	1
		Lisa Bonder	7	6											1	Hana Mandlíková	6	3	6
		Julie Harrington	6	1	6											C Kohde	3	6	2
		Caroline Stoll	2	6	3				Julie Harrington	3	6
		Claudia Kohde	6	6					Claudia Kohde	6	7
	5	Regina Maršíková	1	3																		1	Hana Mandlíková	6	6
	3	Pam Shriver	6	6																		3	Pam Shriver	0	2
		Sherry Acker	1	3				3	Pam Shriver	1	6	7
		Anne Smith	6	6					Anne Smith	6	1	6
		Yvonne Vermaak	4	3											3	Pam Shriver	6	6
		Bettina Bunge	6	6												Bettina Bunge	4	2
		Betsy Nagelsen	0	2					Bettina Bunge	6	6
	7	Lea Antonoplis	2	6	4			7	Sue Barker	4	2
		Sue Barker	6	3	6

	First round							Second round							Quarterfinals							Semifinals
	6	Mima Jaušovec	6	6
		Isabelle Villiger	1	1				6	Mima Jaušovec	6	6
		Marita Redondo	6	1					Paula Smith	1	1
		Paula Smith	7	6											6	Mima Jaušovec	3	2
		Rosalyn Fairbank	6	6	2											Leslie Allen	6	6
		Leslie Allen	7	3	6				Leslie Allen	6	6
		Beth Norton	4	6				4	Virginia Ruzici	1	4
	4	Virginia Ruzici	6	7																			Leslie Allen	2	7	6
	8	JoAnne Russell	1	3																			Barbara Potter	6	6	4
		Susan Mascarin	6	6					Susan Mascarin	3	3
		Barbara Potter	6	6					Barbara Potter	6	6
		Kathy Horvath	1	4												Barbara Potter	6	6	6
		Lucia Romanov	1	0											2	Wendy Turnbull	3	7	3
		Mary-Lou Piatek	6	6					Mary-Lou Piatek	3	3
		Betty Stöve	2	3				2	Wendy Turnbull	6	6
	2	Wendy Turnbull	6	6

• Main draw