Singles
1980 South American Championships
1979 Champion	Guillermo Vilas
Champion	José Luis Clerc
Runner-up	Rolf Gehring
Score	6–7, 2–6, 7–5, 6–0, 6–3

Guillermo Vilas was the defending champion but did not compete that year.

José Luis Clerc won in the final 6–7, 2–6, 7–5, 6–0, 6–3 against Rolf Gehring.

Seeds

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

Draw

Final

	Semifinals							Final
	6	Rolf Gehring	3	7	6
	3	Víctor Pecci	6	6	4
								6	Rolf Gehring	7	6	5	0	3
								2	José Luis Clerc	6	2	7	6	6
		Jose Luis Damiani	0	4
	2	José Luis Clerc	6	6

Section 1

	First round							Second round							Quarterfinals							Semifinals
	LL	P Elter	3	6	7
	Q	A Gattiker	6	2	5			LL	P Elter	6	6
		K Eberhard	6	6	6				K Eberhard	4	3
		G Guerrero	7	4	0										LL	P Elter	7	5	3
		C Kirmayr	6	6											6	R Gehring	6	7	6
		G Tiberti	4	4					C Kirmayr	7	5	1
		S Simonsson	3	5				6	R Gehring	6	7	6
	6	R Gehring	6	7																		6	R Gehring	3	7	6
	3	V Pecci	6	6																		3	V Pecci	6	6	4
		J Soares	3	4				3	V Pecci	6	7
		R Cano	6	6					R Cano	3	5
	Q	C Motta	4	3											3	V Pecci	6	6
		C Freyss	6	7											7	A Gómez	1	3
		D Carter	3	6					C Freyss	3	2
		C Casa	1	6	4			7	A Gómez	6	6
	7	A Gómez	6	2	6

Section 2

	First round							Second round							Quarterfinals							Semifinals
	5	M Martinez	6	6
		J James	1	2				5	M Martinez	3	3
		J L Damiani	6	6					J L Damiani	6	6
	Q	B Prajoux	1	2												J L Damiani	7	6
		Á Giménez	7	6											4	H Gildemeister	5	1
		J Velasco, Sr.	5	3					Á Giménez	6	6	4
		Á Betancur	0	0r					H Gildemeister	1	7	6
	4	H Gildemeister	6	3																			J L Damiani	0	4
	8	M Hocevar	6	6	6																	2	J L Clerc	6	6
		R Fagel	4	7	3			8	M Hocevar	6	4
		R Ycaza	3	6	6				R Ycaza	7	6
		D Bedel	6	0	1											R Ycaza	4	4
		T Koch	7	6											2	J L Clerc	6	6
	Q	R Carruthers	6	3					T Koch	6	2	1
		E Bengoechea	3	0				2	J L Clerc	1	6	6
	2	J L Clerc	6	6

External links

• 1980 South American Championships Singles draw