# 1956 French Championships – Men's singles

First-seeded Lew Hoad defeated Sven Davidson 6–4, 8–6, 6–3 in the final to win the men's singles tennis title at the 1956 French Championships.

## Seeds

The seeded players are listed below. Lew Hoad is the champion; others show the round in which they were eliminated.
* Lew Hoad (champion)
* Budge Patty (fourth round)
* Sven Davidson (finalist)
* Art Larsen (fourth round)
* Giuseppe Merlo (semifinals)
* Jaroslav Drobný (fourth round)
* Ashley Cooper (semifinals)
* Tut Bartzen (first round)
* Luis Ayala (fourth round)
* Kurt Nielsen (fourth round)
* Herbert Flam (quarterfinals)
* Bob Perry (fourth round)
* Paul Rémy (quarterfinals)
* Don Candy (fourth round)
* Jacques Brichant (quarterfinals)
* Roger Becker (fourth round)

## Draw
### Key

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

### Finals

| Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final | Final | Final | Final |
| 15 | Jacques Brichant | 4 | 6 | 6 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 7 | Ashley Cooper | 6 | 8 | 2 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 7 | Ashley Cooper | 6 | 8 | 2 | 6 | | 7 | Ashley Cooper | 2 | 7 | 7 | 3 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | 3 | Sven Davidson | 6 | 9 | 5 | 6 | | | | | |
| 3 | Sven Davidson | 6 | 6 | 7 | | | 3 | Sven Davidson | 6 | 9 | 5 | 6 | | | | | |
| 11 | Herbert Flam | 2 | 4 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 11 | Herbert Flam | 2 | 4 | 5 | | | | | | | | | 3 | Sven Davidson | 4 | 6 | 3 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | Lew Hoad | 6 | 8 | 6 |
| 5 | Giuseppe Merlo | 4 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 10 | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | Lew Hoad | 6 | 8 | 6 |
| 13 | Paul Rémy | 6 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 13 | Paul Rémy | 6 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 8 | 5 | Giuseppe Merlo | 4 | 5 | 4 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | 1 | Lew Hoad | 6 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | |
| | Nicola Pietrangeli | 1 | 3 | 0 | | | 1 | Lew Hoad | 6 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | |
| 1 | Lew Hoad | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

### Earlier rounds
#### Section 1

| First round | First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| Morales | 2 | 0 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Olozaga | 6 | 6 | 6 | | Olozaga | 6 | 4 | 3 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | Plećević | 3 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | Plećević | 2 | 0 | 4 | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 15 | Brichant | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | Follveider | 2 | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | 15 | Brichant | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 15 | Brichant | 3 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 6 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Patty | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 2 |
| | | | | | Javorský | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | Belkhodja | 2 | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | Javorský | 3 | 2 | 3 | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Patty | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | Huber | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | 2 | Patty | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 2

| First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| | Asbóth | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Fachini | 4 | 3 | 1 | | | | Asbóth | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Weiss | 7 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 2 | | Hajjar | 1 | 1 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Hajjar | 5 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | Asbóth | 7 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 4 | | | | | |
| | Molinari | 8 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | 10 | Nielsen | 5 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 6 | | | | | |
| | Johansson | 6 | 4 | 2 | | | | Molinari | 5 | 4 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Laver | 1 | 2 | 4 | | | 10 | Nielsen | 7 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 10 | Nielsen | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 10 | Nielsen | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| | Macy | 1 | 8 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 7 | Cooper | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| | Hammersley | 6 | 10 | 6 | | | | Hammersley | 6 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Davies | | | | | | | Davies | 3 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Garrido | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Davies | 2 | 4 | 1 | | | | | | | |
| | El Khoury | 8 | 2 | 4 | 4 | | | | | | | | | 7 | Cooper | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | |
| | Desq | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | Desq | 5 | 7 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Van Voorhees | 2 | 4 | 1 | | | 7 | Cooper | 7 | 9 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 7 | Cooper | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 3

| First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| | Lartigue | 1 | 2 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Feldbausch | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | Feldbausch | 3 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Lasry | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | Lasry | 6 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Smith | 2 | 1 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | Feldbausch | 2 | 0 | 3 | | | | | | | |
| | De Kermadec | 5 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 6 | | | | | | | | 14 | Candy | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | |
| | Mey | 7 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 2 | | De Kermadec | 4 | 0 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Favieres | 4 | 6 | 4 | 2 | | 14 | Candy | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 14 | Candy | 6 | 3 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 14 | Candy | 3 | 7 | 6 | 4 |
| | Laval | 2 | 0 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | Davidson | 6 | 5 | 8 | 6 |
| | Nys | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | Nys | 6 | 2 | 2 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Darmon | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | Darmon | 4 | 6 | 6 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Rueda | 1 | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | Darmon | 8 | 5 | 2 | 6 | | | | | | |
| | Reyes Jr | 7 | 2 | 9 | 2 | | | | | | | | | 3 | Davidson | 6 | 7 | 6 | 8 | | | | | | |
| | Sirola | 9 | 6 | 7 | 6 | | | Sirola | 3 | 4 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Powers | 0 | 0 | 0 | | | 3 | Davidson | 6 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Davidson | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 4

| First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| | Gimeno | 2 | 2 | 6 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Fancutt | 6 | 6 | 3 | 6 | | | Fancutt | 13 | 4 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Willey | | | | | | | Pellizza | 11 | 6 | 1 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Pellizza | | | | | | | | | | | | | Fancutt | 2 | 1 | 0 | | | | | |
| | Pasquier | 0 | 3 | 1 | | | | | | | | | 11 | Flam | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | Vincent | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | Vincent | 2 | 2 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Keretic | 3 | 4 | 4 | | | 11 | Flam | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 11 | Flam | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 11 | Flam | 7 | 6 | 8 |
| | O'Brien | 4 | 1 | 10 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | 6 | Drobný | 5 | 3 | 6 |
| | Wilson | 6 | 6 | 8 | 6 | | | Wilson | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Pimentel | 7 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 6 | | Jalabert | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Jalabert | 5 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 8 | | | | | | | | Wilson | 0 | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | Mark | 6 | 6 | 13 | | | | | | | | | 6 | Drobný | 6 | 8 | 8 | | | | | |
| | Rinderknech | 2 | 3 | 11 | | | | Mark | 0 | 2 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Howe | 2 | 3 | 2 | | | 6 | Drobný | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Drobný | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 5

| First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| 5 | Merlo | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Sturdza | | | | | | 5 | Merlo | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Dorfman | 7 | 6 | 6 | 7 | | | Dorfman | 0 | 3 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | De La Prade | 9 | 4 | 1 | 5 | | | | | | | | 5 | Merlo | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | |
| | Haillet | | | | | | | | | | | | | Haillet | 4 | 2 | 4 | | | | | | |
| | Pinart | | | | | | | Haillet | 8 | 5 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Ahmad | 2 | 0 | 2 | | | | Vermaak | 6 | 7 | 4 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Vermaak | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 5 | Merlo | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| 12 | Perry | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 12 | Perry | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| | Bergerat | 2 | 0 | 1 | | | 12 | Perry | 6 | 6 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Argon | 6 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | | Argon | 3 | 4 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Lesage | 3 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 2 | | | | | | | 12 | Perry | 3 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | Brinkman | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | Mezzi | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | | | | | |
| | Chatrier | 7 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 1 | | Brinkman | 0 | 2 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Mezzi | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | Mezzi | 6 | 6 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Panajotovic | 2 | 3 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 6

| First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| 4 | Larsen | 6 | 10 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Dubuc | 1 | 8 | 2 | | | 4 | Larsen | 6 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Lerque | 4 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 3 | | Black | 4 | 3 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Black | 6 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 6 | | | | | | | | 4 | Larsen | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | |
| | Schaff | 2 | 4 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | Deniau | 0 | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | |
| | Saeed Hai | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | Saeed Hai | 6 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Deniau | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | Deniau | 4 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Hawton | 3 | 3 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4 | Larsen | 7 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 3 |
| 13 | Rémy | 7 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 13 | Rémy | 5 | 6 | 1 | 7 | 6 |
| | Knight | 5 | 0 | 3 | | | 13 | Rémy | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Bergamo | 1 | 2 | 0 | | | | Fox | 2 | 1 | 7 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Fox | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | 13 | Rémy | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | |
| | Barclay | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Ádám-Stolpa | 4 | 1 | 2 | | | | | | | |
| | Borghini | | | | | | | Borghini | 2 | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Malosse | 4 | 3 | 4 | | | | Ádám-Stolpa | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Ádám-Stolpa | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 7

| First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| 8 | Bartzen | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Scholl | | | | | | | Scholl | 2 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Lemasson | 4 | 4 | 0 | | | | Forbes | 6 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Forbes | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | Forbes | 6 | 9 | 3 | | | | | | | |
| | Pietrangeli | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | Pietrangeli | 8 | 11 | 6 | | | | | | | |
| | Devroe | 1 | 1 | 2 | | | | Pietrangeli | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Deniau | 1 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | Deniau | 2 | 0 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Becker | 6 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Pietrangeli | 6 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 6 |
| 9 | Ayala | 8 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 9 | Ayala | 4 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 4 |
| | Perreau-Saussine | 6 | 3 | 0 | | | 9 | Ayala | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Popovic | | | | | | | Popovic | 1 | 0 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Slobin | | | | | | | | | | | | | 9 | Ayala | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | |
| | Schmidt | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | Schmidt | 4 | 4 | 3 | | | | | | | |
| | Martínez | 2 | 1 | 2 | | | | Schmidt | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Grandet | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | Grandet | 3 | 2 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Stern | 2 | 3 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 8

| First round | First round | First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| | | | | | 1 | Hoad | 6 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Gulyás | 4 | 2 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 1 | Hoad | 1 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 6 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | Abdesselam | 6 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 0 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Abdesselam | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Chabance | 1 | 1 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | Hoad | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 16 | Becker | 8 | 5 | 1 | 3 |
| | | | | | 16 | Becker | 9 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Ulrich | 7 | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 16 | Becker | 8 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | Bernard | 6 | 1 | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Bernard | 10 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Lemyze | 4 | 7 | 6 | 6 | | Lemyze | 8 | 5 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Najar | 6 | 5 | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |