See main article: 1986 French Open.
Defending champion Chris Evert defeated Martina Navratilova in the final, 2–6, 6–3, 6–3 to win the women's singles tennis title at the 1986 French Open. It was her seventh French Open singles title and her 18th and final major singles title overall, an Open Era record. It also marked the 13th consecutive year in which Evert won a major, another Open Era record. It was the third successive year that Evert and Navratilova contested the French Open final.
The seeded players are listed below. Chris Evert is the champion; others show the round in which they were eliminated.
See main article: 1986 French Open – Women's singles qualifying.