See main article: 1996 French Open.
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. With the win, Graf claimed her 19th major singles title, surpassing Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova's Open Era record.
The seeded players are listed below. Steffi Graf is the champion; others show the round in which they were eliminated.
See main article: 1996 French Open – Women's singles qualifying.