1956 French Championships – Women's singles

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]

Women's singles
1956 French Championships
Final
ChampionUnited States Althea Gibson
Runner-upUnited Kingdom Angela Mortimer
Score6–0, 12–10
Details
Draw55
Seeds16
Events
Singles men women
Doubles men women
← 1955 · French Championships · 1957 →

Seeds

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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

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Finals

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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

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Section 1

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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

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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

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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

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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

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  1. ^ Collins, Bud (2010). The Bud Collins History of Tennis (2nd ed.). [New York]: 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.
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Preceded by Grand Slam women's singles Succeeded by