1956 French Championships – Women's Singles

Third-seeded 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.

Women's Singles
1956 French Championships
Champion	Althea Gibson
Runner-up	Angela Mortimer
Final score	6–0, 12–10
Seeds	16

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 (Semifinalist)
6. Shirley Bloomer (Quarterfinalist)
7. Christiane Mercelis (Second round)
8. Barbara Davidson (Second round)
9. Suzanne Le Besnerais (Third round)
10. Edda Buding (Quarterfinalist)
11. Thelma Long (Third round)
12. Darlene Hard (Third round)
13. Annalissa Bellani (Third round)
14. Ginette Bucaille (Third round)
15. Angela Buxton (Semifinalist)
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

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	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

1. Collins, Bud (2010). The Bud Collins History of Tennis (2nd ed.). [New York]: New Chapter Press. p. 395. ISBN 978-0942257700.

External links

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