 Chris Evert-Lloyd finished the year as world No. 1 for the fifth time in her career. She won eight singles tournaments during the season, including a major at the Wimbledon Championships. She also finished runner-up at another major, the Australian Open. | |
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Duration | 12 January – 20 December 1981 |
| Edition | 9th |
| Tournaments | 47 |
| Categories | Grand Slam (4) WTA Championships (3) Avon Championships (10) Toyota Series (26) |
| Achievements (singles) | |
| Most tournament titles |  Martina Navratilova (10) |
| Most tournament finals | Martina Navratilova (16) |
| Prize money leader | Martina Navratilova ($865,437) |
| Points leader | Chris Evert (17.542) |
| Awards | |
| Player of the year | Chris Evert-Lloyd |
| Doubles team of the year | Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver |
| Most improved player of the year | Barbara Potter |
| Newcomer of the year | Kathy Rinaldi |
← 1980 1982 → | |
The 1981 Avon Championships World Championship Series was the 9th season since the foundation of the Women's Tennis Association. It commenced on January 4, 1981, and concluded on December 19, 1981, after 36 events. The Avon Championships World Championship Series was the elite tour for professional women's tennis organised by the Women's Tennis Association (WTA). The year is divided into two sponsors with the first three months sponsored by Avon Series and the latter part by Toyota Series. It included the four Grand Slam tournaments and a series of other events. ITF tournaments were not part of the tour, although they awarded points for the WTA World Ranking.