ATP Houston 1981 Draw, Results & Schedule

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Jose Luis Clerc won the 1981 Houston, defeating Ivan Lendl 4-6 6-4 6-2 in the final. The ATP 250 event was played on clay courts in Indianapolis, United States, from April 6 to April 12, 1981.

Champion
Jose Luis Clerc
def. Ivan Lendl , 4-6 6-4 6-2
Dates
Apr 6 — Apr 12
Location
Indianapolis, United States
Category
ATP 250
Surface
Clay
Prize money
—
Round of 64
Jose Luis Clerc #4 6-4 6-4
Sherwood Stewart
Chris Delaney #170 6-3 6-3
Billy Nealon #309
Andres Gomez #57 2-6 6-3 6-3
Mario Martinez
Carlos Castellan #180 6-1 6-1
Jose Miguel Ayala
Mel Purcell #26 5-0 (ret.)
Pavel Slozil #72
Manuel Orantes #71 6-4 6-2
Stanislav Birner #74
Gabriel Urpi #106 6-1 7-5
Fernando Maynetto #178
Heinz Gunthardt #55 7-6 6-0
Charles Buzz Strode #136
John Alexander #100 6-3 6-3
Brad Gilbert
Ilie Nastase #80 6-4 6-2
Roland Stadler #95
David Carter #145 4-6 6-3 6-4
Jan Norback #100
Harold Solomon #12 6-1 6-1
Marko Ostoja #203
Gilles Moretton #192 2-6 7-5 6-2
Peter Feigl #93
Tomas Smid #28 6-2 6-4
Robert Vant Hof
Hans Gildemeister 6-3 7-6
Steve Denton #403
Van Winitsky #79 7-5 6-3
Marcos Hocevar #95
Ivan Lendl #5 6-2 6-1
Rick Fagel #99
John Benson #356 6-4 6-2
Juan Nunez #185
Shlomo Glickstein #43 6-4 6-3
Eduardo Bengoechea #90
Belus Prajoux #154 6-1 6-3
Mehl Ampon #667
Jose Luis Damiani #33 6-4 6-3
Jim Gurfein #219
Per Hjertquist #79 7-6 6-2
Ramesh Krishnan
Jose Higueras #24 6-1 6-1
Jose Lopez Maeso
John Hayes #99 5-7 7-5 6-4
Alejandro Cortes #175
Guillermo Vilas #6 6-0 6-1
Craig Wittus #423
Jonathan Smith
BYE
Hans Simonsson #115 6-2 6-4
Terry Moor #41
Christophe Freyss #97 5-7 6-4 6-4
Todd Lundy #667
Ricardo Cano #53 6-4 6-4
Alvaro Fillol #141
Chris Lewis #72 6-4 1-6 6-2
Eddie Dibbs #35
Mark Edmondson #48 6-2 6-1
Mike Cahill #189
Deon Joubert #144 6-4 6-1
Glen Holroyd #440
Round of 32
Jose Luis Clerc #4 6-2 6-1
Chris Delaney #170
Andres Gomez #57 6-4 6-0
Carlos Castellan #180
Mel Purcell #26 6-1 6-2
Manuel Orantes #71
Gabriel Urpi #106 7-5 6-2
Heinz Gunthardt #55
John Alexander #100 6-3 6-2
Ilie Nastase #80
David Carter #145 6-2 6-4
Harold Solomon #12
Gilles Moretton #192 6-2 6-4
Tomas Smid #28
Hans Gildemeister 6-2 6-2
Van Winitsky #79
Ivan Lendl #5 6-3 6-4
John Benson #356
Shlomo Glickstein #43 5-7 6-4 6-2
Belus Prajoux #154
Jose Luis Damiani #33 6-1 6-1
Per Hjertquist #79
Jose Higueras #24 6-1 6-1
John Hayes #99
Guillermo Vilas #6 6-3 6-2
Jonathan Smith
Hans Simonsson #115 7-5 6-3
Christophe Freyss #97
Ricardo Cano #53 6-2 6-2
Chris Lewis #72
Mark Edmondson #48 7-6 6-4
Deon Joubert #144
Round of 16
Jose Luis Clerc #4 7-6 6-3
Andres Gomez #57
Mel Purcell #26 6-7 6-1 5-4 (ret.)
Gabriel Urpi #106
John Alexander #100 6-4 6-3
David Carter #145
Gilles Moretton #192 6-4 7-6
Hans Gildemeister
Ivan Lendl #5 6-2 6-1
Shlomo Glickstein #43
Jose Luis Damiani #33 6-0 6-4
Jose Higueras #24
Guillermo Vilas #6 6-4 6-1
Hans Simonsson #115
Ricardo Cano #53 6-7 7-6 6-0
Mark Edmondson #48
Quarterfinals
Jose Luis Clerc #4 6-3 6-3
Mel Purcell #26
John Alexander #100 3-6 7-5 6-4
Gilles Moretton #192
Ivan Lendl #5 6-2 6-4
Jose Luis Damiani #33
Guillermo Vilas #6 6-3 6-1
Ricardo Cano #53
Semifinals
Jose Luis Clerc #4 3-6 6-3 6-1
John Alexander #100
Ivan Lendl #5 6-3 7-5
Guillermo Vilas #6
Final
Jose Luis Clerc #4 4-6 6-4 6-2
Ivan Lendl #5

Most Titles

PlayerTitles
Jimmy Connors 4
Manuel Orantes 3
Pete Sampras 3
Andy Roddick 2
Boris Becker 2

Recent Finals

SeasonSurfaceWinnerScoreRunner-upH2HMatch
2026 Clay Tommy Paul 6-1 3-6 7-5 Roman Andres Burruchaga H2H Match data
2025 Clay Jenson Brooksby 6-4 6-2 Frances Tiafoe H2H Match data
2024 Clay Ben Shelton 7-5 4-6 6-3 Frances Tiafoe H2H Match data
2023 Clay Frances Tiafoe 7-6(1) 7-6(6) Tomas Martin Etcheverry H2H Match data
2022 Clay Reilly Opelka 6-3 7-6(7) John Isner H2H Match data

View full tournament history →

Related Tournaments

Other ATP 250 tournaments in 1981

Previous editions of Houston

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Houston held?
Houston is held in Indianapolis, United States.
Who won the most recent Houston?
The 2026 Houston was won by Tommy Paul 6-1 3-6 7-5.
Who has won the most Houston titles?
Jimmy Connors has won 4 Houston titles, the most by any player.
When was the first Houston played?
The first edition of Houston was held in 1968.
What surface is Houston played on?
Houston is played on clay courts.