# 1956 U.S. National Championships – Men's singles

Ken Rosewall defeated Lew Hoad 4–6, 6–2, 6–3, 6–3 in the final to win the men's singles tennis title at the 1956 U.S. National Championships. Hoad was attempting to complete the Grand Slam.

## Seeds

The seeded players are listed below. Ken Rosewall is the champion; others show the round in which they were eliminated.
* Lew Hoad (finalist)
* Ken Rosewall (champion)
* Ham Richardson (quarterfinals)
* Vic Seixas (semifinals)
* Neale Fraser (semifinals)
* Ashley Cooper (quarterfinals)
* Ulf Schmidt (third round)
* Dick Savitt (quarterfinals)

## Draw
### Key

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

### Final eight

| Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final | Final | Final | Final | Final |
| 5 | Neale Fraser | 3 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Ham Richardson | 6 | 3 | 2 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Ham Richardson | 6 | 3 | 2 | 4 | | 5 | Neale Fraser | 13 | 2 | 4 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | 1 | Lew Hoad | 15 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | |
| | Roy Emerson | 6 | 3 | 5 | | | 1 | Lew Hoad | 15 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | |
| 1 | Lew Hoad | 8 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1 | Lew Hoad | 8 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | 1 | Lew Hoad | 6 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Ken Rosewall | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| 6 | Ashley Cooper | 7 | 6 | 7 | 12 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Ken Rosewall | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| 4 | Vic Seixas | 9 | 3 | 9 | 10 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Vic Seixas | 9 | 3 | 9 | 10 | 6 | 4 | Vic Seixas | 8 | 0 | 3 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | 2 | Ken Rosewall | 10 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Dick Savitt | 4 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 1 | 2 | Ken Rosewall | 10 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | |
| 2 | Ken Rosewall | 6 | 7 | 4 | 8 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |

### Earlier rounds
#### Section 1

| 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 | Fourth round |
| | Daniels | 2 | 5 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Mendel | 6 | 7 | 6 | | | | Mendel | 2 | 3 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Sledge | 3 | 3 | 1 | | | | Shea | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Shea | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | Shea | 6 | 10 | 6 | | | | | | |
| | Morgan | 3 | 1 | 6 | 9 | 4 | | | | | | | | Frost | 3 | 8 | 3 | | | | | | |
| | Meyer | 6 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 6 | | Meyer | 2 | 2 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Rochon | 2 | 1 | 2 | | | | Frost | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Frost | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Shea | 7 | 3 | 3 | 8 |
| | Furlong | 2 | 6 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 5 | Fraser | 5 | 6 | 6 | 10 |
| | Gaines | 6 | 8 | 6 | | | | Gaines | 4 | 5 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Vincent | 0 | 0 | 3 | | | | Dorfman | 6 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Dorfman | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | Dorfman | 4 | 4 | 4 | | | | | | |
| | Wood | 4 | 3 | 0 | | | | | | | | | 5 | Fraser | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | |
| | Kupferburger | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | Kupferburger | 3 | 5 | 8 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Maccracken | 2 | 4 | 2 | | | 5 | Fraser | 6 | 7 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Fraser | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### 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 | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| | Anderson | 3 | 4 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Green | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | Green | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Powless | 5 | 2 | 1 | | | | Llamas | 3 | 4 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Llamas | 7 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | Green | 3 | 4 | 4 | | | | | | |
| | Gori | 6 | 1 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | Olmedo | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | |
| | Olmedo | 8 | 6 | 6 | | | | Olmedo | 8 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Ball | 8 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | | Quay | 6 | 1 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Quay | 6 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Olmedo | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| | Leslie | 1 | 2 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | Richardson | 7 | 6 | 6 |
| | MacKay | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | MacKay | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Garcia | 7 | 3 | 3 | | | | Quillian | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Quillian | 9 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | Quillian | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | | | | | |
| | Main | 0 | 3 | 1 | | | | | | | | | 3 | Richardson | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | Becker | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | Becker | 2 | 0 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Laver | 1 | 2 | 3 | | | 3 | Richardson | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Richardson | 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 | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| | Haillet | 4 | 2 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Flam | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | Flam | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Fox | 6 | 3 | 4 | 3 | | | Fontana | 1 | 2 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Fontana | 3 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | Flam | 1 | 1 | 6 | 5 | | | | | |
| | Thompson | 2 | 1 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | Emerson | 6 | 6 | 3 | 7 | | | | | |
| | Emerson | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | Emerson | 3 | 6 | 6 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Dell | 7 | 6 | 8 | 3 | 11 | | Knight | 6 | 4 | 3 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Knight | 5 | 3 | 10 | 6 | 13 | | | | | | | | | | | | | Emerson | 9 | 7 | 6 | 6 |
| | Farrin | 4 | 1 | 10 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Segal | 11 | 5 | 2 | 1 |
| | Perry | 6 | 6 | 8 | 6 | | | Perry | 2 | 1 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Buchholz | 3 | 1 | 4 | | | | Segal | 6 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Segal | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | Segal | 8 | 9 | 5 | 7 | | | | | |
| | Platt | 1 | 3 | 3 | | | | | | | | | 7 | Schmidt | 6 | 7 | 7 | 5 | | | | | |
| | Cranston | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | Cranston | 2 | 3 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Morris | 3 | 2 | 4 | | | 7 | Schmidt | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 7 | Schmidt | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 4

| 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 |
| | Cranis | 4 | 4 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Clark | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | Clark | 1 | 11 | 2 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Harit | 0 | 1 | 1 | | | Golden | 6 | 9 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Golden | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | Golden | 7 | 6 | 1 | 6 | | | | | |
| | Neely | 1 | 4 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | Moss | 5 | 3 | 6 | 2 | | | | | |
| | Schmidt | 6 | 6 | 7 | | | Schmidt | 5 | 6 | 9 | 7 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Krais | 0 | 2 | 6 | 3 | | Moss | 7 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Moss | 6 | 6 | 4 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Golden | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| | Crawford | 2 | 2 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | Hoad | 6 | 6 | 7 |
| | Mulloy | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | Mulloy | 3 | 3 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Grant | 0 | 1 | 7 | 3 | | Moylan | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Moylan | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | | | | | | | | | Moylan | 9 | 3 | 4 | | | | | | |
| | Gan | 2 | 0 | 2 | | | | | | | | | 1 | Hoad | 11 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | |
| | Dodson | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | Dodson | 6 | 0 | 3 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Walraven | 0 | 2 | 0 | | 1 | Hoad | 3 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1 | Hoad | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 5

| 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 | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| | Walraven | 2 | 4 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Henry | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | Henry | 4 | 2 | 11 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Holmberg | 4 | 4 | 2 | | | Giammalva | 6 | 6 | 9 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Giammalva | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | Giammalva | 7 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Freeman | 0 | 2 | 4 | | | | | | | | | Schwartz | 5 | 1 | 4 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Geller | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | Geller | 1 | 2 | 6 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Jordan | 2 | 7 | 3 | | | Schwartz | 6 | 6 | 2 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Schwartz | 6 | 9 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Giammalva | 6 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 5 |
| | Schoonmaker | 6 | 3 | 7 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 6 | Cooper | 3 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 7 |
| | Davis | 3 | 6 | 9 | 6 | | Davis | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Noble | 6 | 8 | 0 | 3 | | Franks | 3 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Franks | 4 | 10 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | Franks | 6 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 4 | | | | | | | |
| | Paton | 3 | 2 | 3 | | | | | | | | 6 | Cooper | 4 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | | | | | | | |
| | Bartzen | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | Bartzen | 7 | 3 | 10 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Dailey | 3 | 3 | 2 | | 6 | Cooper | 9 | 6 | 8 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Cooper | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### 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 | 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 |
| | Brown | 5 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Perry | 7 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 6 | | Perry | 1 | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Eltzholtz | 2 | 7 | 2 | | | | Ulrich | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Ulrich | 6 | 9 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | Ulrich | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | |
| | Van Rensselaer | 6 | 5 | 3 | 8 | | | | | | | | | Garrido | 4 | 3 | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| | Garrido | 4 | 7 | 6 | 10 | | | Garrido | 14 | 6 | 4 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Freeman | 2 | 3 | 4 | | | | Harum | 12 | 3 | 6 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Harum | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Ulrich | 6 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| | Raskind | 6 | 3 | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4 | Seixas | 3 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| | Vieira | 3 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | Vieira | 2 | 4 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Boys | 0 | 3 | 3 | | | | Ayala | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Ayala | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | Ayala | 6 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 6 | | | | | | |
| | Lerque | 1 | 1 | 2 | | | | | | | | | 4 | Seixas | 8 | 4 | 3 | 12 | 8 | | | | | | |
| | Darmon | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | Darmon | 3 | 3 | 6 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Davies | 3 | 6 | 10 | 3 | 5 | 4 | Seixas | 6 | 6 | 3 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Seixas | 6 | 3 | 8 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### 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 | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| | Clayton | 6 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Reed | 4 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 6 | | Reed | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Bueno-Nete | 1 | 2 | 6 | | | | Steele Jr. | 8 | 0 | 3 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Steele Jr. | 6 | 6 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | Reed | 4 | 6 | 5 | 3 | | | | | |
| | Wood | 6 | 2 | 6 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | Contreras | 6 | 3 | 7 | 6 | | | | | |
| | Barker | 8 | 6 | 0 | 6 | | | Barker | 2 | 1 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Tully | 6 | 3 | 8 | 5 | | | Contreras | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Contreras | 4 | 6 | 10 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Contreras | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| | Ter Borg | 4 | 1 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 8 | Savitt | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| | Sorlien | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | Sorlien | 6 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Ogden | 1 | 2 | 6 | 2 | | | Coss | 2 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Coss | 6 | 6 | 4 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | Coss | 1 | 2 | 3 | | | | | | |
| | Longshore | 3 | 3 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | 8 | Savitt | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | |
| | Harum | 6 | 6 | 7 | | | | Harum | 0 | 1 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Snyder | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | | 8 | Savitt | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Savitt | 1 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 8

| 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 | Fourth round |
| | Andrews | 3 | 4 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Mayne | 6 | 6 | 7 | | | Mayne | 6 | 4 | 7 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Freedman | 0 | 1 | 5 | | | Bédard | 4 | 6 | 9 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Bédard | 6 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | Bédard | 11 | 2 | 4 | 4 | | | | | | |
| | Stern | 2 | 4 | 5 | | | | | | | | | Stewart | 9 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | |
| | Stewart | 6 | 6 | 7 | | | Stewart | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Owen | 4 | 5 | 4 | | | Cullen | 3 | 3 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Cullen | 6 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Stewart | 6 | 7 | 1 | 2 |
| | Lesch | 2 | 2 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Rosewall | 2 | 9 | 6 | 6 |
| | Kuross | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | Kuross | 2 | 4 | 12 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Mark | 6 | 2 | 1 | 5 | | Larsen | 6 | 6 | 14 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Larsen | 3 | 6 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | Larsen | 3 | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | |
| | Land | 0 | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | | 2 | Rosewall | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | |
| | Rémy | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | Rémy | 1 | 4 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Robinson | 1 | 0 | 1 | | 2 | Rosewall | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2 | Rosewall | 6 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |