1996 French Open – Men's singles

Yevgeny Kafelnikov defeated Michael Stich in the final, 7–6^(7–4), 7–5, 7–6^(7–4) to win the men's singles tennis title at the 1996 French Open. It was his first major singles title.^[1]

Quick Facts Men's singles, Final ...

Men's singles
1996 French Open
Final
Champion	Yevgeny Kafelnikov
Runner-up	Michael Stich
Score	7–6(7–4), 7–5, 7–6(7–4)
Details
Seeds	16
Events
Singles men women boys girls Doubles men women mixed boys girls WC Singles men women quad WC Doubles men women quad Legends −45 45+ women
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Thomas Muster was the defending champion, but lost in the fourth round to Stich.

Pete Sampras was attempting to complete the career Grand Slam, but lost in the semifinals to Kafelnikov. This marked his career-best result at the French Open.

Future three-time champion and world No. 1 Gustavo Kuerten made his first appearance in the main draw of a major, losing to Wayne Ferreira in the first round. Three-time champion Mats Wilander made his final major appearance, losing to Todd Martin in the second round.

The seeded players are listed below. Yevgeny Kafelnikov is the champion; others show the round in which they were eliminated.

^[2]

Finals

	Quarterfinals									Semifinals									Final
	1	Pete Sampras	64	4	6	6	6
	7	Jim Courier	77	6	4	4	4
										1	Pete Sampras	64	0	2
										6	Yevgeny Kafelnikov	77	6	6
	13	Richard Krajicek	3	4	77	2
	6	Yevgeny Kafelnikov	6	6	64	6
																			6	Yevgeny Kafelnikov	77	7	77
																			15	Michael Stich	64	5	64
		Bernd Karbacher	6	6	3	5	0
	14	Marc Rosset	4	4	6	7	6
										14	Marc Rosset	3	4	2
										15	Michael Stich	6	6	6
		Cédric Pioline	4	6	3	2
	15	Michael Stich	6	4	6	6

Top half

Section 1

	First round									Second round									Third round									Fourth round
	1	P Sampras	6	7	77
		M Gustafsson	1	5	65					1	P Sampras	6	6	62	2	6
		J Sánchez	1	5	4						S Bruguera	3	4	77	6	3
		S Bruguera	6	7	6														1	P Sampras	3	6	7	4	6
		J-P Fleurian	5	4	1															T Martin	6	4	5	6	2
		M Wilander	7	6	6						M Wilander	4	65	2
		K Carlsen	1	1	77	2					T Martin	6	77	6
		T Martin	6	6	65	6																						1	P Sampras	6	7	6
		B Black	5	3	0																								S Draper	4	5	2
		S Draper	7	6	6						S Draper	2	6	6	6
		G Schaller	6	6	7						G Schaller	6	3	2	4
	WC	S Simian	3	4	5															S Draper	6	6	6
		J Tarango	4	6	4	6	6													J Tarango	1	2	3
		M Damm	6	2	6	3	4				J Tarango	6	6	6
	Q	F Squillari	77	6	3					Q	F Squillari	4	4	1
	16	M Washington	64	4	0r

Section 2

	First round									Second round									Third round									Fourth round
	10	W Ferreira	6	7	77
	Q	G Kuerten	4	5	64					10	W Ferreira	4	79	6	77
	Q	G Etlis	3	2	63						S Doseděl	6	67	1	64
		S Doseděl	6	6	77														10	W Ferreira	65	7	6	7
		B Steven	6	6	77															R Furlan	77	5	1	5
	WC	G Carraz	2	2	63						B Steven	0	2	4
		J Golmard	4	6	6	5	4				R Furlan	6	6	6
		R Furlan	6	3	1	7	6																					10	W Ferreira	6	1	3	3
	WC	R Carretero	6	68	6	2	2																					7	J Courier	4	6	6	6
		K Kučera	3	710	4	6	6				K Kučera	77	6	65	4	6
		M Hadad	6	3	2	0				LL	M Norman	65	4	77	6	2
	LL	M Norman	4	6	6	6														K Kučera	77	5	4	4r
		S Matsuoka	62	5	77	1													7	J Courier	62	7	6	5
		D Rikl	77	7	64	6					D Rikl	3	2	2
	Q	A Olhovskiy	1	6	64	4				7	J Courier	6	6	6
	7	J Courier	6	3	77	6

Section 3

	First round									Second round									Third round									Fourth round
	3	A Agassi	6	67	6	6
	Q	J Díaz	1	79	4	4				3	A Agassi	6	4	79	3	2
		C Woodruff	6	6	3	77					C Woodruff	4	6	67	6	6
		V Spadea	2	2	6	64														C Woodruff	65	6	6	5	4
	WC	T Champion	2	6	77	4	7													J Björkman	77	2	4	7	6
		S Stolle	6	4	63	6	5			WC	T Champion	7	1	4	0
		F Dewulf	4	4	3						J Björkman	5	6	6	6
		J Björkman	6	6	6																								J Björkman	3	2	4
	LL	N Kulti	6	2	6	4	1																					13	R Krajicek	6	6	6
		T Woodbridge	0	6	2	6	6				T Woodbridge	3	6	77	77
		M Philippoussis	6	6	6						M Philippoussis	6	4	61	62
		A Volkov	3	2	2															T Woodbridge	5	2	2
		T Carbonell	4	6	6	77													13	R Krajicek	7	6	6
	Q	T El Sawy	6	4	4	65					T Carbonell	2	6	62	2
		S Noszály	6	62	1	4				13	R Krajicek	6	4	77	6
	13	R Krajicek	4	77	6	6

Section 4

	First round									Second round									Third round									Fourth round
	12	A Costa	3	6	6	77
		F Meligeni	6	4	3	62				12	A Costa	4	3	6	66
		J Van Herck	6	5	62	3					F Clavet	6	6	4	78
		F Clavet	4	7	77	6														F Clavet	6	7	6
		T Henman	4	4	5															G Forget	3	5	3
		K Goossens	6	6	7						K Goossens	4	4	6	6	3
		A Chesnokov	65	64	6	6	4				G Forget	6	6	3	3	6
		G Forget	77	77	2	3	6																						F Clavet	4	3	3
	Q	D Dier	4	2	7	4																						6	Y Kafelnikov	6	6	6
		F Mantilla	6	6	5	6					F Mantilla	77	6	6
		M Woodforde	3	4	6	4					À Corretja	62	2	4
		À Corretja	6	6	0	6														F Mantilla	4	2	2
	WC	H Leconte	1	1	4														6	Y Kafelnikov	6	6	6
		T Johansson	6	6	6						T Johansson	2	5	3
	Q	G Blanco	1	3	3					6	Y Kafelnikov	6	7	6
	6	Y Kafelnikov	6	6	6

Bottom half

Section 5

	First round									Second round									Third round									Fourth round
	5	G Ivanišević	6	6	6
		J Arrese	4	4	1					5	G Ivanišević	7	6	6
		D Wheaton	63	6	6	6					D Wheaton	5	2	4
		G Raoux	77	0	4	4													5	G Ivanišević	6	6	6
		B Ulihrach	6	6	6															B Ulihrach	4	2	2
	Q	F Montana	2	4	2						B Ulihrach	6	610	6	6
		N Lapentti	2	2	3						A Medvedev	3	712	1	4
		A Medvedev	6	6	6																							5	G Ivanišević	3	1	2
		A Gaudenzi	6	6	6																								B Karbacher	6	6	6
	Q	K Tiilikainen	3	1	1						A Gaudenzi	3	4	4
		B Karbacher	6	6	6						B Karbacher	6	6	6
		G Pérez Roldán	2	4	4															B Karbacher	4	6	6	6
		Y El Aynaoui	5	66	0r															P Haarhuis	6	4	2	3
		P Haarhuis	7	78	3						P Haarhuis	7	2	6	6
	Q	J Palmer	3	4	3					11	A Boetsch	5	6	2	4
	11	A Boetsch	6	6	6

Section 6

	First round									Second round									Third round									Fourth round
	14	M Rosset	6	6	6
		C-U Steeb	4	4	0					14	M Rosset	6	6	6
		J Novák	2	4	6	6	6				J Novák	2	4	3
		N Pereira	6	6	2	1	1												14	M Rosset	6	6	6
		J Hlasek	6	6	4	6														J Hlasek	4	4	1
		M Larsson	1	4	6	3					J Hlasek	6	1	6	77
		J Siemerink	77	6	6						J Siemerink	2	6	3	63
		H Gumy	64	3	1																							14	M Rosset	77	6	6
		K Alami	4	2	4																								S Edberg	64	3	3
		S Edberg	6	6	6						S Edberg	6	6	6
		C Moyá	6	77	6						C Moyá	2	2	1
		P Rafter	4	61	2															S Edberg	4	7	6	77
		R Fromberg	6	6	6														4	M Chang	6	5	0	61
	WC	O Delaître	3	1	3						R Fromberg	4	6	65	4
		D Prinosil	1	1	2					4	M Chang	6	3	77	6
	4	M Chang	6	6	6

Section 7

	First round									Second round									Third round									Fourth round
	8	T Enqvist	2	6	6	4	4
		R Reneberg	6	3	3	6	6				R Reneberg	5	2	3
		C Pioline	6	6	6						C Pioline	7	6	6
		J Frana	1	3	2															C Pioline	4	6	6	6
		A Berasategui	6	6	3	6														A Berasategui	6	1	4	0
		M Tebbutt	4	4	6	3					A Berasategui	6	6	6
		H Dreekmann	6	6	6						H Dreekmann	2	2	3
		C Ruud	4	3	0																								C Pioline	6	6	6
	Q	F Fontang	6	4	0	1																						9	M Ríos	4	1	2
	WC	L Roux	3	6	6	6				WC	L Roux	5	4	4
		S Pescosolido	6	4	6	2	4				P Korda	7	6	6
		P Korda	4	6	2	6	6													P Korda	3	3	2
	Q	J Krošlák	1	2	1														9	M Ríos	6	6	6
		J Stoltenberg	6	6	6						J Stoltenberg	4	3	3
		M Joyce	64	1	4					9	M Ríos	6	6	6
	9	M Ríos	77	6	6

Section 8

	First round									Second round									Third round									Fourth round
	15	M Stich	6	7	6
	Q	P Fredriksson	4	5	4					15	M Stich	6	7	6
	Q	G Doyle	2	6	5	6	5				G Rusedski	3	5	3
		G Rusedski	6	1	7	2	7												15	M Stich	4	6	6	77
	Q	D Norman	7	3	6	3	4													M Tillström	6	0	4	63
		M Knowles	5	6	4	6	6				M Knowles	7	3	6	4	3
		M Tillström	4	2	6	7	6				M Tillström	5	6	1	6	6
		C Costa	6	6	1	5	1																					15	M Stich	4	6	6	77
		A Voinea	3	6	77	5	6																					2	T Muster	6	4	1	61
		M-K Goellner	6	3	65	7	2				A Voinea	5	6	6	6
		S Schalken	6	6	1	6					S Schalken	7	3	4	2
		D Vacek	3	3	6	3														A Voinea	2	2r
		M Ondruska	3	4	6	77	7												2	T Muster	6	5
	WC	G Solvès	6	6	3	64	9			WC	G Solvès	1	3	0
		F Fetterlein	4	2	4					2	T Muster	6	6	6
	2	T Muster	6	6	6