# 1956 Wimbledon Championships – Women's singles

Shirley Fry defeated Angela Buxton in the final, 6–3, 6–1 to win the ladies' singles tennis title at the 1956 Wimbledon Championships. Louise Brough was the defending champion, but lost in the semifinals to Fry.

## Seeds

    01. Louise Brough (semifinals)
    02. Beverly Fleitz (quarterfinals)
    03. Angela Mortimer (quarterfinals)
    04. Althea Gibson (quarterfinals)
    05. Shirley Fry (champion)
    06. Angela Buxton (final)
    07. Dorothy Knode (second round)
    08. Shirley Bloomer (quarterfinals)
Click on the seed number of a player to go to their draw section.

## Draw
### Key

* Q = Qualifier
* WC = Wild card
* LL = Lucky loser
* Alt = Alternate
* SE = Special exempt
* PR = Protected ranking
* ITF = ITF entry
* JE = Junior exempt
* w/o = Walkover
* r = Retired
* d = Defaulted
* SR = Special ranking

### Finals

| Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final | Final | Final |
| 2 | Beverly Fleitz | w/o | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Angela Buxton | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Angela Buxton | | | | 6 | Angela Buxton | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Pat Ward | 1 | 4 | | | | | |
| 3 | Angela Mortimer | 3 | 0 | | | Pat Ward | 1 | 4 | | | | | |
| | Pat Ward | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Pat Ward | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | 6 | Angela Buxton | 3 | 1 |
| | | | | | | | | | | 5 | Shirley Fry | 6 | 6 |
| 5 | Shirley Fry | 4 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | 5 | Shirley Fry | 6 | 6 |
| 4 | Althea Gibson | 6 | 3 | 4 | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Althea Gibson | 6 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Shirley Fry | 6 | 4 | 6 | | | | |
| | | | | | 1 | Louise Brough | 4 | 6 | 3 | | | | |
| 8 | Shirley Bloomer | 7 | 1 | 3 | 1 | Louise Brough | 4 | 6 | 3 | | | | |
| 1 | Louise Brough | 5 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |

### Top half
#### Section 1

| Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| 2 | Beverly Fleitz | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | |
| | Pilar Barril | 4 | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | 2 | B Fleitz | 6 | 6 | | | | |
| | | | | | C Hoahing | 1 | 3 | | | | |
| | Gem Hoahing | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | |
| | Jennifer Edmondson | 4 | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | 2 | B Fleitz | 6 | 8 |
| | | | | | | | | | Z Körmöczy | 0 | 6 |
| | Daphne Seeney | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | |
| | Leonie Brighton | 2 | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | D Seeney | 2 | 3 | | | | |
| | | | | | Z Körmöczy | 6 | 6 | | | | |
| | Nell Hopman | 1 | 4 | | | | | | | | |
| | Zsuzsa Körmöczy | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 2

| Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| 6 | Angela Buxton | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Suzanne le Besnerais | 4 | 0 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 6 | A Buxton | 6 | 6 | | | | |
| | | | | | | L Gram-Andersen | 3 | 2 | | | | |
| | Norma Kemsey-Bourne | 4 | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Lisa Gram-Andersen | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | 6 | A Buxton | 6 | 6 |
| | | | | | | | | | | E Watson | 4 | 4 |
| | Joopy Roos-Van der Wal | 4 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | |
| | Bobbie Wilson | 6 | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | J Roos-Van der Wal | 8 | 2 | | | | |
| | | | | | | E Watson | 10 | 6 | | | | |
| | Elaine Watson | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Joan Curry | 2 | 3 | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 3

| 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 | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| 3 | Angela Mortimer | 6 | 4 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Thelma Long | 1 | 6 | 3 | 3 | A Mortimer | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Anthea Gibb | 4 | 3 | | | P Panton | 1 | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Pearl Panton | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | 3 | A Mortimer | 6 | 7 | | | | |
| Q | Hazel Moorley | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | D Hard | 3 | 5 | | | | |
| | Sheila Bramley | 5 | 4 | | Q | H Moorley | 2 | 3 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Denise Collier | 2 | 2 | | | D Hard | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Darlene Hard | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | A Mortimer | 6 | 6 |
| | Bea Walter | 0 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | T Hale | 2 | 0 |
| | Rosemary Deloford | 6 | 4 | 1 | | B Walter | 3 | 9 | 4 | | | | | | | | |
| | Birgit Gullbrandsson-Sandén | 6 | 5 | | | B Davidson | 6 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | |
| | Barbara Davidson | 8 | 7 | | | | | | | | B Davidson | w/o | | | | | |
| | Thea Hale | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | T Hale | | | | | | |
| | Gill Evans | 2 | 2 | | | T Hale | 7 | 4 | 8 | | | | | | | | |
| Q | Florence de la Courtie | 6 | 6 | | Q | F de la Courtie | 5 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | |
| Q | Jane Godfrey | 4 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 4

| 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 | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| 7 | Dorothy Knode | 8 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Sue Waters | 6 | 2 | | 7 | D Knode | 4 | 9 | 1 | | | | | | | |
| | Valerie Lewis | 6 | 0 | 3 | | V Pužejová | 6 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | |
| | Věra Pužejová | 1 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | V Pužejová | 10 | 6 | | | |
| | Doreen Spiers | 8 | 5 | 6 | | | | | | | E Vollmer | 8 | 3 | | | |
| | Pauline Roberts | 6 | 7 | 4 | | D Spiers | 2 | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| | Erika Vollmer | 6 | 6 | | | E Vollmer | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | |
| Q | Sidney Brock | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | V Pužejová | 3 | 2 |
| | Sheila Armstrong | 0 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | P Ward | 6 | 6 |
| Q | Elaine Becroft | 6 | 7 | | Q | E Becroft | 6 | 3 | 7 | | | | | | | |
| | Estelle van Tonder | 1 | 5 | | | J Clarke | 3 | 6 | 5 | | | | | | | |
| | Jean Clarke | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | Q | E Becroft | 4 | 4 | | | |
| | Heather Macfarlane | 3 | 2 | | | | | | | | P Ward | 6 | 6 | | | |
| | Pat Ward | 6 | 6 | | | P Ward | 12 | 4 | 6 | | | | | | | |
| Q | Jill Rook | 0 | 0 | | | B Carr | 10 | 6 | 2 | | | | | | | |
| | Bernice Carr | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

### Bottom half
#### Section 5

| 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 | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| | Jenny Hoad | 6 | 3 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Georgie Woodgate | 3 | 6 | 2 | | J Hoad | 8 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Lorna Cawthorn | 2 | 2 | | | V Thomas | 6 | 4 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Vera Thomas | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | J Hoad | 6 | 6 | | | | |
| | Joan MacLeod | 2 | 6 | 9 | | | | | | Q | S Waddington | 0 | 2 | | | | |
| | Viola White | 6 | 2 | 7 | | J MacLeod | 6 | 0 | 8 | | | | | | | | |
| | Janet Morgan | 4 | 6 | 7 | Q | S Waddington | 4 | 6 | 10 | | | | | | | | |
| Q | Sheila Waddington | 6 | 4 | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | J Hoad | 2 | 2 |
| | Heather Brewer | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | 5 | S Fry | 6 | 6 |
| | Nel van der Storm | 1 | 3 | | | H Brewer | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | María Josefa de Riba | 7 | 6 | | | MJ de Riba | 4 | 0 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Marion Boundy | 5 | 2 | | | | | | | | H Brewer | 3 | 4 | | | | |
| | Ginette Bucaille | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | 5 | S Fry | 6 | 6 | | | | |
| | Astrid Winther | 2 | 1 | | | G Bucaille | 3 | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Christiane Mercelis | 2 | 1 | | 5 | S Fry | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Shirley Fry | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 6

| 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 | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| | Kathleen Holt | 4 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Margaret H. O'Donnell | 6 | 5 | 4 | | K Holt | 3 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Louise Snow | 6 | 6 | | | L Snow | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Sheila Speight | 0 | 3 | | | | | | | | L Snow | 6 | 1 | 2 | | | | |
| | Pat Hird | 2 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | P Hird | 3 | 6 | 6 | | | | |
| | June Fitzpatrick | 6 | 3 | 2 | | P Hird | 3 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Else Schmith | 3 | 4 | | | I Metzner | 6 | 0 | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Ingrid Metzner | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | P Hird | 0 | 4 |
| | Anne Shilcock | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | 4 | A Gibson | 6 | 6 |
| | Ilse Buding | 3 | 2 | | | A Shilcock | 3 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | Kay Newcombe | 0 | 2 | | | A Haydon | 6 | 3 | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Ann Haydon | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | A Shilcock | 6 | 2 | 1 | | | | |
| Q | Pat Wheeler | 2 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | 4 | A Gibson | 4 | 6 | 6 | | | | |
| | Margot Parker | 6 | 0 | 2 | Q | P Wheeler | 1 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Edda Buding | 4 | 2 | | 4 | A Gibson | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Althea Gibson | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 7

| 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 |
| | Sandra Reynolds | 4 | 6 | 3 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Pat Brown | 6 | 4 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | P Brown | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | S Gustafsson | 1 | 3 | | | | | |
| | Elizabeth Broz | 2 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Solveig Gustafsson | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | P Brown | 2 | 5 |
| | | | | | | | | | | 8 | S Bloomer | 6 | 7 |
| | Betty Pratt | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Marion Craig-Smith | 4 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | B Pratt | 6 | 2 | 6 | | | | |
| | | | | | 8 | S Bloomer | 4 | 6 | 8 | | | | |
| | Jean Knight | 0 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Shirley Bloomer | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 8

| Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| | Caroline Yates-Bell | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | |
| | Barbara Knapp | 0 | 8 | 4 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | C Yates-Bell | 0 | 0 | | | | |
| | | | | | | F Muller | 6 | 6 | | | | |
| Q | Colette Monnot | 3 | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Fay Muller | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | F Muller | 3 | 1 |
| | | | | | | | | | 1 | L Brough | 6 | 6 |
| | Jennifer Middleton | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Pauline Edwards | 2 | 4 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | J Middleton | 0 | 4 | | | | |
| | | | | | 1 | L Brough | 6 | 6 | | | | |
| | Jean Forbes | 0 | 0 | | | | | | | | | |
| 1 | Louise Brough | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |