1956 French Championships – Women's singles

Women's singles
1956 French Championships
Final
Champion	Althea Gibson
Runner-up	Angela Mortimer
Score	6–0, 12–10
Details
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.^[1] It was her first Grand Slam tournament title, and Gibson became the first African American to win a Grand Slam tournament.^[2]

Seeds[edit]

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

Draw[edit]

Key[edit]

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

Finals[edit]

	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[edit]

Section 1[edit]

	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[edit]

	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[edit]

	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[edit]

	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[edit]

External links[edit]

• "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