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 third set of the final due to a torn stomach muscle. This marked the first occasion since the 1911 Wimbledon Championships that a man withdrew during the championship match of a singles major.