1956 French Championships – Women's Singles

Women's Singles
1956 French Championships
Champion	Althea Gibson
Runner-up	Angela Mortimer
Final score	6–0, 12–10

Althea Gibson defeated Angela Mortimer 6–0, 12–10 in the final to win the Women's Singles tennis title at the 1956 French Championships.^[1] With this win Gibson became the first African-American, woman or man, to win a Grand Slam Championship.

Seeds

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

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	6	6
	5	Körmöczy	6	6																		5	Körmöczy	1	1
		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	8	6
																					15	Buxton	6	2
							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

External links

• "Official 1956 Women's Draw" (PDF).  (69.2 KiB) on the French Open website