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1956 French Championships – Women's singles

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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 →

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

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

Draw

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Key

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Finals

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

Earlier rounds

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Section 1

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First round Second round Third round Quarterfinals
1 United Kingdom Mortimer 7 6
France Salvet 5 2
1 United Kingdom Mortimer 6 6
16 France Dubois 1 2
Belgium Pouchain 4 0
16 France Dubois 6 6
1 United Kingdom Mortimer 6 4 7
Australia Hoad 0 6 5
8 United States Davidson 6 2 5
Australia Hoad 6 6 Australia Hoad 1 6 7
France Amouretti 1 3 Australia Hoad
9 France Le Besnerais 9 France Le Besnerais
Italy Ramorino 9 France Le Besnerais 6 4 6
Australia Hopman 6 5 3 West Germany Alhert 1 6 4
West Germany Alhert 3 7 6

Section 2

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First round Second round Third round Quarterfinals
4 Australia Hawton 6 4 3
France Lemal 1 6 6 France Lemal 0 1
West Germany Buding 6 6 West Germany Buding 6 6
United Kingdom Walter 0 2 West Germany Buding 1 6 6
France Bouchet 4 4 13 Italy Bellani 6 3 2
South Africa O'Donnell 6 6 South Africa O'Donnell 2 4
13 Italy Bellani 6 6 13 Italy Bellani 6 6
France Launay 0 3 West Germany Buding 1 1
5 Hungary Körmöczy 6 6 5 Hungary Körmöczy 6 6
France Varin 1 1 5 Hungary Körmöczy 6 6
Belgium Coessens 3 4 France Monnot 0 1
France Monnot 6 6 5 Hungary Körmöczy 4 7 6
France Kermina 6 6 6 12 United States Hard 6 5 3
France Trauttmann 0 8 2 France Kermina 1 3
12 United States Hard 6 5 6 12 United States Hard 6 6
Brazil Metzner 0 7 3

Section 3

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First round Second round Third round Quarterfinals
France Trancart 1 2
11 Australia Long 6 6 11 Australia Long 7 6
Italy Migliori 3 6 6 Italy Migliori 5 2
Netherlands Wienese 6 4 3 11 Australia Long 3 5
France Bourbonnais 8 3 7 6 United Kingdom Bloomer 6 7
France Nenot 6 6 5 France Bourbonnais 1 2
Belgium Isaac 1 3 6 United Kingdom Bloomer 6 6
6 United Kingdom Bloomer 6 6 6 United Kingdom Bloomer 2 1
14 France Bucaille 3 6 6 3 United States Gibson 6 6
Spain Barril 6 2 2 14 France Bucaille 0 6 6
West Germany Dittmeyer 3 6 4 South Africa Forbes 6 4 4
South Africa Forbes 6 3 6 14 France Bucaille 1 1
Czechoslovakia Puzejova 6 6 3 United States Gibson 6 6
France Galtier 1 3 Czechoslovakia Puzejova 4 2
France Gimault 1 1 3 United States Gibson 6 6
3 United States Gibson 6 6

Section 4

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First round Second round Third round Quarterfinals
France De Chambure 3 0
Australia Seeney 6 6 Australia Seeney 6 7 9
France Seghers 6 6 France Seghers 8 5 7
Belgium Crowet 3 2 Australia Seeney 2 3
10 West Germany Buding 6 6 10 West Germany Buding 6 6
Switzerland Wavre 1 4 10 West Germany Buding 6 9
France De La Courtie 4 2 7 Belgium Mercelis 4 7
7 Belgium Mercelis 6 6 10 West Germany Buding 6 2
15 United Kingdom Buxton 8 6
15 United Kingdom Buxton 6 6
Australia Muller 4 4
15 United Kingdom Buxton 4 7 6
2 United States Knode 6 5 1
France Coste 4 1
2 United States 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