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Women's singles
1956 French Championships
Final
Champion	Althea Gibson
Runner-up	Angela Mortimer
Score	6–0, 12–10
Details
Draw	55
Seeds	16
Events
Singles men women Doubles men women
← 1955 · French Championships · 1957 →

Althea Gibson defeated Angela Mortimer in the final, 6–0, 12–10 to win the women's singles tennis title at the 1956 French Championships. It was her first Grand Slam tournament title, and Gibson became the first African American to win a Grand Slam tournament.

Seeds

The seeded players are listed below. Althea Gibson is the champion; others show the round in which they were eliminated.

1. Angela Mortimer (finalist)
2. Dorothy Knode (third round)
3. Althea Gibson (champion)
4. Mary Hawton (first round)
5. Zsuzsi Körmöczy (semifinals)
6. Shirley Bloomer (quarterfinals)
7. Christiane Mercelis (second round)
8. Barbara Davidson (second round)
9. Suzanne Le Besnerais (third round)
10. Edda Buding (quarterfinals)
11. Thelma Long (third round)
12. Darlene Hard (third round)
13. Annalissa Bellani (third round)
14. Ginette Bucaille (third round)
15. Angela Buxton (semifinals)
16. Myrtil Dubois (third round)

Draw

Key

• Q = Qualifier
• WC = Wild card
• LL = Lucky loser
• r = Retired

Finals

	Quarterfinals							Semifinals							Finals
	1	Angela Mortimer	6	4	7
		Jenny Hoad	0	6	5
								1	Angela Mortimer	6	6
								5	Zsuzsi Körmöczy	4	3
		Ilse Buding	1	1
	5	Zsuzsi Körmöczy	6	6
															1	Angela Mortimer	0	10
															3	Althea Gibson	6	12
	6	Shirley Bloomer	2	1
	3	Althea Gibson	6	6
								3	Althea Gibson	2	6	6
								15	Angela Buxton	6	0	4
	10	Edda Buding	6	2
	15	Angela Buxton	8	6

Earlier rounds

Section 1

	First round							Second round							Third round							Quarterfinals
								1	Mortimer	7	6
									Salvet	5	2
															1	Mortimer	6	6
															16	Dubois	1	2
									Pouchain	4	0
								16	Dubois	6	6
																						1	Mortimer	6	4	7
																							Hoad	0	6	5
								8	Davidson	6	2	5
		Hoad	6	6					Hoad	1	6	7
		Amouretti	1	3												Hoad
	9	Le Besnerais													9	Le Besnerais
		Ramorino						9	Le Besnerais	6	4	6
		Hopman	6	5	3				Alhert	1	6	4
		Alhert	3	7	6

Section 2

	First round							Second round							Third round							Quarterfinals
	4	Hawton	6	4	3
		Lemal	1	6	6				Lemal	0	1
		Buding	6	6					Buding	6	6
		Walter	0	2												Buding	1	6	6
		Bouchet	4	4											13	Bellani	6	3	2
		O'Donnell	6	6					O'Donnell	2	4
	13	Bellani	6	6				13	Bellani	6	6
		Launay	0	3																			Buding	1	1
	5	Körmöczy	6	6																		5	Körmöczy	6	6
		Varin	1	1				5	Körmöczy	6	6
		Coessens	3	4					Monnot	0	1
		Monnot	6	6											5	Körmöczy	4	7	6
		Kermina	6	6	6										12	Hard	6	5	3
		Trauttmann	0	8	2				Kermina	1	3
	12	Hard	6	5	6			12	Hard	6	6
		Metzner	0	7	3

Section 3

	First round							Second round							Third round							Quarterfinals
		Trancart	1	2
	11	Long	6	6				11	Long	7	6
		Migliori	3	6	6				Migliori	5	2
		Wienese	6	4	3										11	Long	3	5
		Bourbonnais	8	3	7										6	Bloomer	6	7
		Nenot	6	6	5				Bourbonnais	1	2
		Isaac	1	3				6	Bloomer	6	6
	6	Bloomer	6	6																		6	Bloomer	2	1
	14	Bucaille	3	6	6																	3	Gibson	6	6
		Barril	6	2	2			14	Bucaille	0	6	6
		Dittmeyer	3	6	4				Forbes	6	4	4
		Forbes	6	3	6										14	Bucaille	1	1
		Puzejova	6	6											3	Gibson	6	6
		Galtier	1	3					Puzejova	4	2
		Gimault	1	1				3	Gibson	6	6
	3	Gibson	6	6

Section 4

	First round							Second round							Third round							Quarterfinals
		De Chambure	3	0
		Seeney	6	6					Seeney	6	7	9
		Seghers	6	6					Seghers	8	5	7
		Crowet	3	2												Seeney	2	3
	10	Buding	6	6											10	Buding	6	6
		Wavre	1	4				10	Buding	6	9
		De La Courtie	4	2				7	Mercelis	4	7
	7	Mercelis	6	6																		10	Buding	6	2
																						15	Buxton	8	6
								15	Buxton	6	6
									Muller	4	4
															15	Buxton	4	7	6
															2	Knode	6	5	1
									Coste	4	1
								2	Knode	6	6

References

1. Collins, Bud (2010). The Bud Collins History of Tennis (2nd ed.). : New Chapter Press. p. 395. ISBN 978-0942257700.
2. G.P. Hughes, ed. (1957). Dunlop Lawn Tennis Annual 1957. London: Ed. J. Burrow & Co. Ltd. pp. 204–205, 208–209.

External links

• "Official 1956 Women's Draw" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2016-12-05. (69.2 KiB) on the French Open website

• 1956 in women's tennis
• French Championships (tennis) by year – Women's singles
• 1956 in French women's sport
• 1956 in French tennis