Singles
1881 U.S. National Championships
Final
Champion	Richard Sears
Runner-up	William Glyn
Score	6–0, 6–3, 6–2
Details
Draw	25
Events
Singles Doubles
U.S. National Championships · 1882 →

Richard Sears defeated William Glyn in the final 6–0 6–3 6–2 to win the inaugural men's singles tennis title at the 1881 U.S. National Championships. Each match was the best of three sets, except for the final which was best of five. Winner of a set was the player who won six games first; no two-game advantage was required. Participation was restricted to USNLTA club members.^[1]

	Quarterfinals							Semifinals							Finals
	Richard Sears		6	6
	Crawford Nightingale		3	5
								Richard Sears		6	6
								Edward Gray		3	0
	Edward Gray
	bye
															Richard Sears		6	6	6
															William Glyn		0	3	2
	William Glyn		6	4	6
	William Gammell		4	6	4
								William Glyn		6	6
								Samuel Shaw		2	2
	Samuel Shaw		4	6	6
	Kessler		6	3	1

	First round							Second round							Quarterfinals							Semifinals
	RD Sears		6	6
	HW Powell		0	2				RD Sears		6	6
	Anderson		6	6				Anderson		1	2
	Randolph		2	0											RD Sears		6	6
	CA Nightingale		6	6											CA Nightingale		3	5
	Caldwell		2	0				CA Nightingale		6	6
	WH Barnes		6	1	6			WH Barnes		4	3
	Miller		2	6	1																	RD Sears		6	6
	EH Gray		6	6																		EH Gray		3	0
	FJ Hines		5	3				EH Gray		6	6
	Coggswell		6	6				Coggswell		0	0
	Congdon		4	5											EH Gray
															bye

	First round							Second round							Quarterfinals							Semifinals
	WE Glyn		1	6	6
	AL Rives		6	1	1			WE Glyn		6	6
	RF Conover		6	6				RF Conover		5	2
	EL Morse		1	1											WE Glyn		6	4	6
	W Gammell		1	6	6										W Gammell		4	6	4
	AE Newbold		6	3	1			W Gammell
								bye
																						WE Glyn		6	6
																						S Shaw		2	2
								S Shaw		6	6
	Rathbone		6	5	6			Rathbone		3	5
	FN Saunders		5	6	5										S Shaw		4	6	6
	Kessler		6	6											Kessler		6	3	1
	F Eldridge		1	4				Kessler		6	6
	WW Smith							WW Smith		1	2
	Pruyn		w/o

• Albiero, Alessandro; Carta, Andrea (2010). The Grand Slam Record Book Vol. 1. Monte Porzio Catone: Effepi Libri. p. 569. ISBN 978-88-6002-017-8.