| Doubles | |
|---|---|
| 1981 South Australian Open | |
| Champions |  |
| Runners-up |   |
| Final score | 6–3, 6–4 |
The event was being held for the first time since 1979.
Colin Dibley and John James won the title, defeating Craig Edwards and Eddie Edwards 6–3, 6–4 in the final.
Colin Dibley is a former tennis player from Australia.
John James, is a right-handed former professional tennis player from Australia.
Craig Edwards is a former professional tennis player from the United States.
| First Round | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Final | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | | 6 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | 3 | 4 | 1 | | 5 | 7 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| | 5 | 7 | 6 | | 7 | 5 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||
 | 7 | 6 | 3 | | 5 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | | 6 | 5 | 6 | 4 | | 7 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||
 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 4 | | 6 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| | 6 | 3 | 6 | | 4 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| | 3 | 6 | 3 | 4 | | 6 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| | 6 | 6 | 6 | | 3 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| | 4 | 7 | 4 | | 7 | 1 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | | 6 | 6 | 3 | | 6 | 6 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||
  | 4 | 3 | | 6 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| | 3 | 7 | 6 | 2 | | 1 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| | 6 | 6 | 4 | | 6 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| | 6 | 6 | 5 | 2 | | 7 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | | 3 | 7 | 7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Mark Edmondson won the title, defeating Brad Drewett 7–5, 6–2 in the final.
Colin Dibley and Sandy Mayer were the defending champions but only Dibley competed that year with Haroon Rahim.
Bob Hewitt and Frew McMillan were the defending champions but lost in the final 6–4, 6–4 against Raymond Moore and Roscoe Tanner.
Tim Gullikson and Tom Gullikson were the defending champions but lost in the semifinals to Rod Frawley and Geoff Masters.
Bob Hewitt and Frew McMillan were the defending champions but only McMillan competed that year with Colin Dibley.
This was the first edition of the event.
Rod Laver was the defending champion, but lost in the quarterfinals this year.
Arthur Ashe and Robert Lutz were the defending champions, but Ashe did not participate this year. Lutz partnered Stan Smith, losing in the semifinals.
Colin Dibley and John James were the defending champions, but did not participate this year.
Wojciech Fibak and Kim Warwick were the defending champions.
Ray Ruffels and Allan Stone were the defending champions.
Arthur Ashe and Tony Roche were the defending champions.
John Alexander and Phil Dent were the defending champions.
Ross Case and Geoff Masters were the defending champions and second seeds, but they lost to unseeded West Germans Harald Elschenbroich and Rolf Gehring in the first round.
Mal Anderson and John Newcombe were the defending champions.
Owen Davidson and Ken Rosewall were the defending champions.
John Newcombe and Tony Roche were the defending champions.
John Newcombe and Tony Roche were the defending champions, but Newcombe did not compete. Roche partnered with Colin Dibley but lost in the quarterfinals to Dick Crealy and Nikola Pilić.
Tom Okker and Marty Riessen were the defending champions but lost in the quarterfinals to Syd Ball and Kim Warwick.
Brian Gottfried and Raúl Ramírez were the defending champions but lost in the semifinals to Gene Mayer and Henry Pfister.