Four-time defending champion Björn Borg defeated John McEnroe in the final, 1–6, 7–5, 6–3, 6–7(16–18), 8–6 to win the gentlemen's singles tennis title at the 1980 Wimbledon Championships.

[1] The final has often been called one of the greatest and most exciting matches of all time, and was the core of the Borg–McEnroe rivalry.

[2] A dramatic depiction of the final featured as the central event of the 2017 movie Borg vs McEnroe.

Harold Solomon and Yannick Noah withdrew due to injury.

They were replaced in the draw by Qualifiers Kevin Curren and Wayne Hampson respectively.