# 1996 French Open – Women's singles

Defending champion Steffi Graf defeated Arantxa Sánchez Vicario in a rematch of the previous year's final, 6–3, 6–7$^{(4–7)}$, 10–8 to win the women's singles tennis title at the 1996 French Open. It was her fifth French Open singles title and record 19th major singles title, surpassing Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova's joint Open Era record.

## Seeds

The seeded players are listed below. Steffi Graf is the champion; others show the round in which they were eliminated.
* Steffi Graf (champion)
* Monica Seles (quarterfinals)
* Conchita Martínez (semifinals)
* Arantxa Sánchez Vicario (final)
* Iva Majoli (quarterfinals)
* Anke Huber (fourth round)
* Kimiko Date (fourth round)
* Brenda Schultz-McCarthy (third round)
* Lindsay Davenport (quarterfinals)
* Jana Novotná (semifinals)
* Mary Joe Fernández (fourth round)
* Mary Pierce (third round)
* Magdalena Maleeva (fourth round)
* Amanda Coetzer (fourth round)
* Martina Hingis (third round)
* Barbara Paulus (third round)

## 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 | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| 1 | Steffi Graf | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Iva Majoli | 3 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Iva Majoli | 3 | 1 | | 1 | Steffi Graf | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | | | | | 3 | Conchita Martínez | 3 | 1 | | | | | |
| 3 | Conchita Martínez | 6 | 6 | | 3 | Conchita Martínez | 3 | 1 | | | | | |
| 9 | Lindsay Davenport | 1 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 9 | Lindsay Davenport | 1 | 3 | | | | | | 1 | Steffi Graf | 6 | 6$^4$ | 10 |
| | | | | | | | | | 4 | Arantxa Sánchez Vicario | 3 | 7$^7$ | 8 |
| | Karina Habšudová | 2 | 7$^7$ | 8 | | | | | | | | | | 4 | Arantxa Sánchez Vicario | 3 | 7$^7$ | 8 |
| 4 | Arantxa Sánchez Vicario | 6 | 6$^4$ | 10 | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Arantxa Sánchez Vicario | 6 | 6$^4$ | 10 | 4 | Arantxa Sánchez Vicario | 6 | 7 | | | | | |
| | | | | | 10 | Jana Novotná | 3 | 5 | | | | | |
| 10 | Jana Novotná | 7$^9$ | 6 | | 10 | Jana Novotná | 3 | 5 | | | | | |
| 2 | Monica Seles | 6$^7$ | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |

### Earlier rounds
#### Section 1

| 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 |
| 1 | S Graf | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | L Neiland | 3 | 2 | | 1 | S Graf | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | N Bradtke | 6 | 6 | | | N Bradtke | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | J Watanabe | 2 | 3 | | | | | | | 1 | S Graf | 6 | 1 | | | | | |
| | P Kamstra | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | Q | P Langrová | 0 | 0 | r | | | | |
| | L Golarsa | 1 | 5 | | | P Kamstra | 2 | 6 | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | P Langrová | 6 | 7$^{14}$ | | Q | P Langrová | 6 | 4 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | N Arendt | 2 | 6$^{12}$ | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | S Graf | 6 | 7$^9$ |
| | J Halard-Decugis | 2 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | 11 | MJ Fernández | 1 | 6$^7$ |
| | L Lee | 6 | 1 | 0 | | J Halard-Decugis | 7$^7$ | 4 | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| LL | G Pizzichini | 7$^7$ | 6 | | LL | G Pizzichini | 6$^4$ | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | |
| | K Kschwendt | 6$^2$ | 2 | | | | | | | LL | G Pizzichini | 2 | 3 | | | | | |
| | H Nagyová | 2 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | 11 | MJ Fernández | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | P Schnyder | 6 | 4 | 4 | | H Nagyová | 2 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 11 | MJ Fernández | 6 | 6 | | 11 | MJ Fernández | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | M Grzybowska | 0 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 2

| First round | First round | First round | First round | First 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 |
| 16 | B Paulus | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | N Kijimuta | 4 | 4 | | 16 | B Paulus | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | K Boogert | 6 | 6 | | | K Boogert | 2 | 4 | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | Á Montolio | 1 | 4 | | | | | | 16 | B Paulus | 4 | 6 | 3 | | | | |
| | K Nagatsuka | 6 | 3 | 6 | | | | | Q | G León García | 6 | 2 | 6 | | | | |
| | K Adams | 4 | 6 | 2 | | K Nagatsuka | 1 | 0 | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | G León García | 6 | 6 | | Q | G León García | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | N Miyagi | 4 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | Q | G León García | 3 | 1 |
| | P Suárez | 1 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | 5 | I Majoli | 6 | 6 |
| | M de Swardt | 6 | 3 | 2 | | P Suárez | 5 | 3 | | | | | | | | | |
| | S Testud | 6 | 5 | 6 | | S Testud | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | V Ruano Pascual | 3 | 7 | 4 | | | | | | S Testud | 6 | 5 | 4 | | | | |
| | R Grande | 6 | 6 | | | | | | 5 | I Majoli | 4 | 7 | 6 | | | | |
| | S Cacic | 3 | 1 | | | R Grande | 3 | 6$^4$ | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | I Majoli | 6 | 6 | | 5 | I Majoli | 6 | 7$^7$ | | | | | | | | | |
| | S Meier | 3 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 3

| First round | First round | First round | First round | First 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 |
| 3 | C Martínez | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | E Callens | 1 | 1 | | 3 | C Martínez | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | |
| | R Zrubáková | 5 | 6 | 6 | | R Zrubáková | 3 | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| WC | A-G Sidot | 7 | 3 | 2 | | | | | 3 | C Martínez | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | A Grossman | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | A Grossman | 2 | 1 | | | | | |
| | Y Kamio | 4 | 0 | | | A Grossman | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | N Dechy | 6 | 7 | | | N Dechy | 3 | 3 | | | | | | | | | |
| | J Husárová | 2 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | C Martínez | 6 | 6 |
| | A Serra Zanetti | 2 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | 14 | A Coetzer | 2 | 3 |
| | F Labat | 6 | 1 | 5 | | A Serra Zanetti | 3 | 3 | | | | | | | | | |
| | N Zvereva | 6 | 6 | | | N Zvereva | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | D Van Roost | 3 | 4 | | | | | | | N Zvereva | 3 | 6 | 2 | | | | |
| Q | F Lubiani | 6 | 7 | | | | | | 14 | A Coetzer | 6 | 3 | 6 | | | | |
| | C Porwik | 4 | 5 | | Q | F Lubiani | 4 | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| 14 | A Coetzer | 6 | 7 | | 14 | A Coetzer | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | A Sugiyama | 1 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### 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 | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| 9 | L Davenport | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | F Perfetti | 4 | 1 | | 9 | L Davenport | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | S-h Park | 5 | 6 | 6 | | S-h Park | 1 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | M Endo | 7 | 1 | 3 | | | | | | 9 | L Davenport | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | Y Basuki | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | Y Basuki | 3 | 2 | | | | | |
| | M Werdel-Witmeyer | 4 | 2 | | | Y Basuki | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | L Courtois | 6 | 5 | | | L Courtois | 5 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | MJ Gaidano | 3 | 2 | r | | | | | | | | | | 9 | L Davenport | 3 | 6 | 8 |
| | L Wild | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | 7 | K Date | 6 | 4 | 6 |
| | R Hiraki | 2 | 0 | | | L Wild | 6$^5$ | 7$^7$ | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | S Cecchini | 6 | 6 | | Q | S Cecchini | 7$^7$ | 6$^3$ | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| | M McGrath | 2 | 1 | | | | | | | | L Wild | 3 | 5 | | | | | |
| | T Ječmenica | 7 | 7$^7$ | | | | | | | 7 | K Date | 6 | 7 | | | | | |
| | S Hack | 5 | 6$^0$ | | | T Ječmenica | 4 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 7 | K Date | 3 | 6 | 6 | 7 | K Date | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Å Carlsson | 6 | 3 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### 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 | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| 6 | A Huber | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | G Fernández | 2 | 2 | | 6 | A Huber | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | A Temesvári | 6 | 7 | | | A Temesvári | 3 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | S Stafford | 1 | 5 | | | | | | | 6 | A Huber | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | N Feber | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | WC | S Pitkowski | 2 | 2 | | | | | |
| | H Suková | 4 | 4 | | | N Feber | 2 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | |
| WC | S Pitkowski | 6 | 5 | 7 | WC | S Pitkowski | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Q | R McQuillan | 4 | 7 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | 6 | A Huber | 5 | 3 |
| | K Habšudová | 6$^5$ | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | K Habšudová | 7 | 6 |
| | K Godridge | 7$^7$ | 0 | 5 | | K Habšudová | 6 | 4 | 8 | | | | | | | | | |
| | N Tauziat | 6 | 6 | | | N Tauziat | 2 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | A Miller | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | K Habšudová | 4 | 7 | 6 | | | | |
| | P Begerow | 2 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | 15 | M Hingis | 6 | 5 | 4 | | | | |
| | C Singer | 6 | 5 | 4 | | P Begerow | 5 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 15 | M Hingis | 6 | 6 | | 15 | M Hingis | 7 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | B Schett | 3 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### 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 | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| 12 | M Pierce | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| LL | M Schnell | 5 | 2 | | 12 | M Pierce | 6 | 2 | 6 | | | | | | | | |
| LL | D Randriantefy | 7$^8$ | 6 | | LL | D Randriantefy | 3 | 6 | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| Q | J Nejedly | 6$^6$ | 1 | | | | | | | 12 | M Pierce | 4 | 2 | | | | |
| | B Rittner | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | B Rittner | 6 | 6 | | | | |
| | K Studeníková | 0 | 1 | | | B Rittner | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | J-Q Yi | 6 | 7 | | | J-Q Yi | 0 | 3 | | | | | | | | | |
| | J Capriati | 3 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | B Rittner | 3 | 4 |
| | M Sánchez Lorenzo | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | 4 | A Sánchez Vicario | 6 | 6 |
| WC | A Cocheteux | 2 | 2 | | | M Sánchez Lorenzo | 3 | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | |
| | E Likhovtseva | 6 | 1 | 6 | | E Likhovtseva | 6 | 3 | 9 | | | | | | | | |
| | J Wiesner | 3 | 6 | 4 | | | | | | | E Likhovtseva | 0 | 0 | | | | |
| | V Martinek | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | 4 | A Sánchez Vicario | 6 | 6 | | | | |
| | J Kandarr | 3 | 4 | | | V Martinek | 0 | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | A Sánchez Vicario | 6 | 6 | | 4 | A Sánchez Vicario | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | A Glass | 2 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Section 7

| 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 |
| 8 | B Schultz-McCarthy | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | A Dechaume-Balleret | 4 | 4 | | 8 | B Schultz-McCarthy | 6 | 5 | 7 | | | | | | | | | |
| WC | A Mauresmo | 6 | 1 | 6 | WC | A Mauresmo | 4 | 7 | 5 | | | | | | | | | |
| | B Reinstadler | 2 | 6 | 4 | | | | | | 8 | B Schultz-McCarthy | 3 | 6 | 2 | | | | |
| | S Farina | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | I Spîrlea | 6 | 3 | 6 | | | | |
| | C Cristea | 3 | 4 | | | S Farina | 0 | r | | | | | | | | | | |
| | I Spîrlea | 6 | 6 | | | I Spîrlea | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| WC | C Mothes-Jobkel | 0 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | I Spîrlea | 1 | 5 |
| | E Makarova | 6 | 3 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | 10 | J Novotná | 6 | 7 |
| | N Baudone | 0 | 6 | 1 | | E Makarova | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | A Fusai | 6 | 6 | | | A Fusai | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | P Hy-Boulais | 2 | 4 | | | | | | | | E Makarova | 1 | 5 | | | | | |
| | S-T Wang | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | 10 | J Novotná | 6 | 7 | | | | | |
| | A Smashnova | 2 | 4 | | | S-T Wang | 4 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 10 | J Novotná | 6 | 6 | | 10 | J Novotná | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | L Richterová | 0 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

#### 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 | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
| 13 | M Maleeva | 6 | 6$^4$ | 12 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | L Raymond | 1 | 7$^7$ | 10 | 13 | M Maleeva | 6 | 2 | 6 | | | | | | | | |
| | T Whitlinger-Jones | 6 | 6 | | | T Whitlinger-Jones | 2 | 6 | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| | E Pampoulova | 1 | 2 | | | | | | | 13 | M Maleeva | 6 | 6 | | | | |
| | M Oremans | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | M Oremans | 2 | 1 | | | | |
| WC | L Ghirardi-Rubbi | 3 | 0 | | | M Oremans | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | R Bobková | 6 | 7 | | | R Bobková | 5 | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| WC | I Demongeot | 2 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | 13 | M Maleeva | 1 | 1 |
| | R Dragomir | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | M Seles | 6 | 6 |
| | A Frazier | 3 | 3 | | | R Dragomir | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| | S Appelmans | 6 | 6 | | | S Appelmans | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| | R Stubbs | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | S Appelmans | 2 | 5 | | | | |
| | N Sawamatsu | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | 2 | M Seles | 6 | 7 | | | | |
| | K Nowak | 2 | 1 | | | N Sawamatsu | 6$^4$ | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| 2 | M Seles | 6 | 6 | | 2 | M Seles | 7$^7$ | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
| WC | C Dhenin | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |