1956 French Championships – Women's singles explained

See main article: 1956 French Championships (tennis).

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

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

Key

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

Earlier rounds

Section 4

External links

• Web site: Official 1956 Women's Draw . 2016-12-05 . 2016-03-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160303181439/http://ww2.fft.fr/rolandgarros/pdfpalmares/femmes1956_en.pdf . dead .   on the French Open website

Notes and References

1. Book: Collins, Bud. The Bud Collins History of Tennis. 2010. New Chapter Press. [New York]. 978-0942257700. 2nd. 395.
2. Book: Dunlop Lawn Tennis Annual 1957. 1957. Ed. J. Burrow & Co. Ltd.. London. 204–205, 208–209 . G.P. Hughes . Pat Hughes (tennis) .