Defending champion Ivan Lendl defeated Stefan Edberg in the final, 4–6, 7–6(7–3), 5–2 ret., to win the men's singles tennis title at the 1990 Australian Open.

Edberg was forced to retire during the final due to a torn stomach muscle.

1 John McEnroe created controversy after he was disqualified from his fourth round match for unsportsmanlike conduct.

He received a warning for intimidating a linesperson, a point penalty after smashing his racket, and was defaulted for arguing with and abusing the umpire, supervisor and tournament referee.

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