title: 1996 Wimbledon Championships – Women's singles
text: # 1996 Wimbledon Championships – Women's singles
  
  Defending champion Steffi Graf defeated Arantxa Sánchez Vicario in a rematch of the previous year's final, 6–3, 7–5 to win the ladies' singles tennis title at the 1996 Wimbledon Championships. It was her seventh Wimbledon singles title and 20th major singles title overall. It was also the second consecutive major final between the two women, with Graf winning the French Open crown over Sánchez Vicario a month earlier.
  
  Kimiko Date reached the semifinals, the last time a Japanese woman would do so at a major until Naomi Osaka in 2018.
  
  ## Seeds
  
      01. Steffi Graf (champion)
      02. Monica Seles (second round)
      03. Conchita Martínez (fourth round)
      04. Arantxa Sánchez Vicario (final)
      05. Anke Huber (third round)
      06. Jana Novotná (quarterfinals)
      07. Chanda Rubin (withdrew)
      08. Lindsay Davenport (second round)
      09. Mary Joe Fernández (quarterfinals)
      10. Magdalena Maleeva (second round)
      11. Brenda Schultz-McCarthy (third round)
      12. Kimiko Date (semifinals)
      13. Mary Pierce (quarterfinals)
      14. Amanda Coetzer (second round)
      15. Irina Spîrlea (second round)
      16. Martina Hingis (fourth round)
      17. Karina Habšudová (first round)
  
  Click on the seed number of a player to go to their draw section.
  
  Chanda Rubin withdrew due to injury. She was replaced in the draw by the highest-ranked non-seeded player Karina Habšudová, who became the #17 seed.
  
  ## 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 |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 1 | Steffi Graf | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
  | 6 | Jana Novotná | 3 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
  | 6 | Jana Novotná | 3 | 2 | | 1 | Steffi Graf | 6 | 2 | 6 | | | | |
  | | | | | | 12 | Kimiko Date | 2 | 6 | 3 | | | | |
  | 12 | Kimiko Date | 3 | 6 | 6 | 12 | Kimiko Date | 2 | 6 | 3 | | | | |
  | 13 | Mary Pierce | 6 | 3 | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
  | 13 | Mary Pierce | 6 | 3 | 1 | | | | | | 1 | Steffi Graf | 6 | 7 |
  | | | | | | | | | | | 4 | Arantxa Sánchez Vicario | 3 | 5 |
  | | Judith Wiesner | 4 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | 4 | Arantxa Sánchez Vicario | 3 | 5 |
  | 4 | Arantxa Sánchez Vicario | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
  | 4 | Arantxa Sánchez Vicario | 6 | 6 | | 4 | Arantxa Sánchez Vicario | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
  | | | | | | | Meredith McGrath | 2 | 1 | | | | | |
  | 9 | Mary Joe Fernández | 3 | 1 | | | Meredith McGrath | 2 | 1 | | | | | |
  | | Meredith McGrath | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
  
  ### Top half
  
  **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 Richterová | 4 | 1 | | 1 | S Graf | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
  | | N Baudone | 0 | 6 | 6 | | N Baudone | 5 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
  | | J Husárová | 6 | 1 | 1 | | | | | | 1 | S Graf | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
  | | H Nagyová | 3 | 2 | | | | | | | | N Arendt | 2 | 1 | | | | | |
  | | N Arendt | 6 | 6 | | | N Arendt | 2 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
  | | C Porwik | 2 | 7 | 6 | | C Porwik | 6 | 2 | 3 | | | | | | | | | |
  | WC | C Wood | 6 | 5 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | S Graf | 6 | 6 |
  | | A Fusai | 7 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | 16 | M Hingis | 1 | 4 |
  | | S Dopfer | 5 | 6 | | | A Fusai | 4 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
  | | R Stubbs | 1 | 4 | | | L Wild | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
  | | L Wild | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | L Wild | 3 | 6 | 1 | | | | |
  | WC | R Viollet | 6 | 2 | 6 | | | | | | 16 | M Hingis | 6 | 2 | 6 | | | | |
  | WC | M Miller | 2 | 6 | 1 | WC | R Viollet | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
  | | J Nejedly | 2 | 2 | | 16 | M Hingis | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
  | 16 | M Hingis | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
  
  **Section 2**
  
  | 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 |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 10 | M Maleeva | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
  | | B Rittner | 2 | 1 | | 10 | M Maleeva | $6^7$ | 6 | 7 | | | | | | | | | |
  | | P Kamstra | 2 | 6 | 1 | | N Tauziat | $7^9$ | 3 | 9 | | | | | | | | | |
  | | N Tauziat | 6 | 3 | 6 | | | | | | | N Tauziat | 3 | 6 | 4 | | | | |
  | | N Zvereva | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | P Hy-Boulais | 6 | 3 | 6 | | | | |
  | | F Lubiani | 3 | 1 | | | N Zvereva | 2 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | |
  | | M de Swardt | $6^2$ | 4 | | | P Hy-Boulais | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
  | | P Hy-Boulais | $7^7$ | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | P Hy-Boulais | 3 | 1 |
  | | Å Carlsson | 6 | 3 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | 6 | J Novotná | 6 | 6 |
  | | K Kschwendt | 4 | 6 | 6 | | K Kschwendt | 2 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
  | | R Dragomir | $6^7$ | 7 | 8 | | R Dragomir | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
  | | Y Basuki | $7^9$ | 5 | 6 | | | | | | | R Dragomir | 3 | 1 | | | | | |
  | | L Courtois | 4 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | 6 | J Novotná | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
  | | A Glass | 6 | 2 | 2 | | L Courtois | 6 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
  | | V Martinek | 4 | 0 | | 6 | J Novotná | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
  | 6 | J Novotná | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
  
  **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 | Third round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 3 | C Martínez | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
  | | S Farina | 0 | 0 | | 3 | C Martínez | 7 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | |
  | | L Raymond | 6 | 3 | 6 | | L Raymond | 5 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | |
  | | Á Montolio | 2 | 6 | 2 | | | | | | 3 | C Martínez | 7 | $7^7$ | | | | | | |
  | | L McNeil | $6^7$ | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | L McNeil | 5 | $6^4$ | | | | | | |
  | Q | L Golarsa | $7^9$ | 4 | 4 | | L McNeil | 4 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
  | | K Po | 6 | 6 | | | K Po | 6 | 0 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
  | Q | A Cocheteux | 4 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | C Martínez | 7 | $6^5$ | 3 |
  | | V Ruano Pascual | 7 | 4 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | 12 | K Date | 5 | $7^7$ | 6 |
  | | K Boogert | 5 | 6 | 6 | | K Boogert | 4 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
  | | N Bradtke | 3 | 0 | | Q | K-A Guse | 6 | 3 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
  | Q | K-A Guse | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | K Boogert | 6 | 4 | 2 | | | | | |
  | | A-G Sidot | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | 12 | K Date | 2 | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
  | Q | C Cristea | 4 | 1 | | | A-G Sidot | $7^7$ | 3 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
  | | K Nagatsuka | 0 | 3 | | 12 | K Date | $6^5$ | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
  | 12 | K Date | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
  
  **Section 4**
  
  | 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 |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 13 | M Pierce | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
  | | P Schnyder | 3 | 2 | | 13 | M Pierce | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
  | WC | J Ward | 3 | 2 | | WC | C Taylor | 4 | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
  | WC | C Taylor | 6 | 6 | | | | | | 13 | M Pierce | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
  | | R Hiraki | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | N Medvedeva | 4 | 1 | | | | | |
  | | C Singer | 5 | 4 | | | R Hiraki | 3 | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
  | | C Morariu | 7 | 5 | 4 | | N Medvedeva | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
  | | N Medvedeva | 5 | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | 13 | M Pierce | 6 | 6 |
  | | E Likhovtseva | $7^7$ | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | E Likhovtseva | 2 | 3 |
  | | E Callens | $6^4$ | 3 | | | E Likhovtseva | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
  | | A Gavaldón | $6^4$ | 1 | | | K Adams | 4 | 3 | | | | | | | | | |
  | | K Adams | $7^7$ | 6 | | | | | | | E Likhovtseva | 6 | 4 | 6 | | | | |
  | | L Neiland | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | L Neiland | 3 | 6 | 0 | | | | |
  | WC | K Rinaldi-Stunkel | 3 | 3 | | | L Neiland | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
  | | M Schnell | 4 | 1 | | 8 | L Davenport | 3 | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
  | 8 | L Davenport | 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 | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 17 | K Habšudová | 0 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
  | | J Wiesner | 6 | 7 | | | J Wiesner | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | |
  | | M Werdel-Witmeyer | 4 | 4 | | Q | M Paz | 2 | 3 | | | | | | | |
  | Q | M Paz | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | J Wiesner | 6 | 7 | | | |
  | | K Nowak | 0 | 2 | | | | | | | G Fernández | 2 | 5 | | | |
  | | G Pizzichini | 6 | 6 | | | G Pizzichini | 2 | 1 | | | | | | | |
  | | T Ječmenica | 6 | 3 | 4 | | G Fernández | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | |
  | | G Fernández | 2 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | J Wiesner | 6 | 6 |
  | | R Zrubáková | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | A Frazier | 4 | 4 |
  | | S-h Park | 6 | 6 | | | S-h Park | 4 | 1 | | | | | | | |
  | | A Frazier | 6 | 6 | | | A Frazier | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | |
  | | D Randriantefy | 3 | 1 | | | | | | | A Frazier | 6 | 6 | | | |
  | | I Gorrochategui | 6 | $7^7$ | | | | | | | I Gorrochategui | 0 | 3 | | | |
  | | A Smashnova | 4 | $6^5$ | | | I Gorrochategui | 6 | 2 | 6 | | | | | | |
  | WC | S Smith | 6 | 1 | 2 | 15 | I Spîrlea | 3 | 6 | 4 | | | | | | |
  | 15 | I Spîrlea | 3 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
  
  **Section 6**
  
  | 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 | Fourth round |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 11 | B Schultz-McCarthy | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
  | | J Kruger | 0 | 3 | | 11 | B Schultz-McCarthy | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
  | | R Bobková | 3 | 3 | | | J Watanabe | 3 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
  | | J Watanabe | 6 | 6 | | | | | | 11 | B Schultz-McCarthy | 5 | 6 | 10 | | | | | |
  | LL | A Olsza | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | S Appelmans | 7 | 3 | 12 | | | | | |
  | | M Grzybowska | 4 | 4 | | LL | A Olsza | 3 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
  | | N Miyagi | 3 | 4 | | | S Appelmans | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
  | | S Appelmans | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | S Appelmans | 6 | 2 | 1 |
  | LL | F Perfetti | 4 | 6 | 11 | | | | | | | | | | 4 | A Sánchez Vicario | 3 | 6 | 6 |
  | | M Sánchez Lorenzo | 6 | 2 | 9 | LL | F Perfetti | 4 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
  | | N Sawamatsu | $7^7$ | 6 | | | N Sawamatsu | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
  | | N Kijimuta | $6^3$ | 2 | | | | | | | N Sawamatsu | 4 | 1 | | | | | | |
  | | M Oremans | $7^7$ | 6 | | | | | | 4 | A Sánchez Vicario | 6 | 6 | | | | | | |
  | | R Grande | $6^4$ | 3 | | | M Oremans | 5 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
  | | A Serra Zanetti | 3 | 4 | | 4 | A Sánchez Vicario | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
  | 4 | A Sánchez Vicario | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
  
  **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 | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round | Fourth round |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 5 | A Huber | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
  | | G León García | 1 | 1 | | 5 | A Huber | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
  | WC | P Shriver | 6 | 6 | | WC | P Shriver | 2 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
  | Q | A Ellwood | 4 | 4 | | | | | | | 5 | A Huber | $6^3$ | 1 | | | | | |
  | | K Godridge | 3 | 3 | | | | | | | | A Sugiyama | $7^7$ | 6 | | | | | |
  | | H Suková | 6 | 6 | | | H Suková | 4 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
  | Q | A Kremer | 5 | 4 | | | A Sugiyama | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
  | | A Sugiyama | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | A Sugiyama | 4 | 6 | 3 |
  | | P Begerow | 4 | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | 9 | MJ Fernández | 6 | 1 | 6 |
  | | B Schett | 6 | 2 | 3 | | B Schett | 2 | 6 | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
  | | F Labat | 6 | 2 | 7 | | F Labat | 6 | 2 | 6 | | | | | | | | | |
  | | T Whitlinger-Jones | 1 | 6 | 5 | | | | | | | F Labat | 2 | 0 | | | | | |
  | | S Cacic | 1 | 3 | | | | | | | 9 | MJ Fernández | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
  | | S Testud | 6 | 6 | | | S Testud | 4 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | |
  | | J Kandarr | 0 | 0 | | 9 | MJ Fernández | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
  | 9 | MJ Fernández | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
  
  **Section 8**
  
  | 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 |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 14 | A Coetzer | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
  | | E Pampoulova | 1 | 1 | 14 | A Coetzer | $6^4$ | 6 | 3 | | | | | | | |
  | | M Endo | 2 | 5 | | M McGrath | $7^7$ | 2 | 6 | | | | | | | |
  | | M McGrath | 6 | 7 | | | | | | M McGrath | 7 | $6^4$ | 6 | | | |
  | | A Dechaume-Balleret | 1 | 1 | | | | | | N Feber | 5 | $7^7$ | 2 | | | |
  | | N Feber | 6 | 6 | | N Feber | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | |
  | | A Miller | 6 | 6 | | A Miller | 1 | 2 | | | | | | | | |
  | | P Suárez | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | M McGrath | 6 | 6 |
  | | Y Kamio | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | K Studeníková | 4 | 0 |
  | | N Dechy | 2 | 3 | | Y Kamio | 0 | 0 | | | | | | | | |
  | | D Van Roost | 6 | 6 | | D Van Roost | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | |
  | Q | M Drake | 3 | 3 | | | | | | D Van Roost | 3 | 2 | | | | |
  | | E Makarova | 2 | 4 | | | | | | K Studeníková | 6 | 6 | | | | |
  | | K Studeníková | 6 | 6 | | K Studeníková | 7 | 5 | 6 | | | | | | | |
  | | A Grossman | 1 | 2 | 2 | M Seles | 5 | 7 | 4 | | | | | | | |
  | 2 | M Seles | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
  