Thomas Enqvist defeated Yevgeny Kafelnikov in the final, 6–2, 6–4, 7–5 to win the singles tennis title at the 1996 Paris Open.

Pete Sampras was the defending champion, but lost in the second round to Marc Rosset.^[1]

A champion seed is indicated in bold text while text in italics indicates the round in which that seed was eliminated. All sixteen seeds received a bye into the second round.

	Quarterfinals							Semifinals							Final
		Marc Rosset	2	6	2
		Magnus Gustafsson	6	3	6
									Magnus Gustafsson	3	2
								12	Thomas Enqvist	6	6
		Stefan Edberg	4	66
	12	Thomas Enqvist	6	78
															12	Thomas Enqvist	6	6	7
															4	Yevgeny Kafelnikov	2	4	5
		Paul Haarhuis	67	1
	4	Yevgeny Kafelnikov	79	6
								4	Yevgeny Kafelnikov	3	6	6
								Q	Petr Korda	6	4	2
	Q	Petr Korda	77	78
		Arnaud Boetsch	62	66

	First round							Second round							Third round							Quarterfinals
								1	P Sampras	4	4
		M Rosset	6	6					M Rosset	6	6
		À Corretja	2	4												M Rosset	7	3	77
	Q	B Black	77	4	6										16	F Mantilla	5	6	62
		J Stoltenberg	63	6	1			Q	B Black	1	7	2
								16	F Mantilla	6	5	6
																							M Rosset	2	6	2
																							M Gustafsson	6	3	6
								9	A Agassi	4	6	3
		M Gustafsson	6	4	6				M Gustafsson	6	3	6
	Q	C Caratti	3	6	0											M Gustafsson	6	6
		J Sánchez	3	63											8	W Ferreira	2	4
		D Vacek	6	77					D Vacek	64	4
								8	W Ferreira	77	6

	First round							Second round							Third round							Quarterfinals
								3	T Muster	2	r
		S Edberg	6	6					S Edberg	6
		M Stich	2	4												S Edberg	4	6	6
		F Clavet	77	4	3										Q	F Wibier	6	4	2
	Q	F Wibier	63	6	6			Q	F Wibier	3	6	6
								14	A Costa	6	4	4
																							S Edberg	4	66
																						12	T Enqvist	6	78
								12	T Enqvist	6	7
		R Reneberg	3	6	7				R Reneberg	4	5
	WC	G Forget	6	4	5										12	T Enqvist	6	77
		T Henman	6	3	4											C Moyá	2	64
		C Moyá	4	6	6				C Moyá	6	5	6
								6	B Becker	3	7	4

	First round							Second round							Third round							Quarterfinals
								5	G Ivanišević	3	2
		J Siemerink	6	66	4				P Haarhuis	6	6
		P Haarhuis	3	78	6											P Haarhuis	6	3	77
	Q	M Larsson	6	6											11	T Martin	4	6	64
		B Ulihrach	4	1				Q	M Larsson	3	6	3
								11	T Martin	6	3	6
																							P Haarhuis	67	1
																						4	Y Kafelnikov	79	6
								13	M Washington	6	6
	Q	M Damm	79	6				Q	M Damm	4	2
	WC	G Raoux	67	2											13	M Washington	4	3
	WC	S Bruguera	4	3											4	Y Kafelnikov	6	6
		C Pioline	6	6					C Pioline	4	6	4
								4	Y Kafelnikov	6	3	6

	First round							Second round							Third round							Quarterfinals
								7	R Krajicek	6	1	5
		A Berasategui	6	6					A Berasategui	3	6	7
		R Furlan	2	2												A Berasategui	1	4
	Q	P Korda	6	5	6										Q	P Korda	6	6
		M Woodforde	4	7	2			Q	P Korda	6	6
								10	M Ríos	3	4
																						Q	P Korda	77	78
																							A Boetsch	62	66
								15	J Courier	4	5
		A Boetsch	7	77					A Boetsch	6	7
		T Woodbridge	5	63												A Boetsch	6	6
		M Philippoussis	6	6											2	M Chang	1	3
	WC	L Roux	4	4					M Philippoussis	5	6	67
								2	M Chang	7	3	79

• 1996 Paris Open draw