What Is 2014 ATP World Tour Finals - Doubles

Overview

The 2014 ATP World Tour Finals – Doubles was the season-ending championship for the top eight doubles teams in men's tennis, held from November 9 to 16, 2014, at the O2 Arena in London. The event marked the culmination of the ATP Tour season, showcasing elite doubles competition under a round-robin and knockout format.

Played on indoor hard courts, the tournament featured the year's most successful pairs based on their performance in ATP-sanctioned events. The format rewarded consistency, with only teams finishing in the top eight of the ATP Doubles Team Rankings eligible to compete.

• Eight teams qualified based on the ATP Doubles Team Rankings as of November 3, 2014, with points accumulated from January 1 onward.
• The tournament was held at the O2 Arena in London, a venue that has hosted the ATP Finals since 2009 under a 12-year contract.
• Bob and Mike Bryan won the title, defeating Ivan Dodig and Marcelo Melo in the final with a score of 6–3, 7–6(7–3).
• This victory marked the Bryans’ fourth ATP World Tour Finals title, tying the record previously held by Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde.
• The total prize money pool was $2 million, with undefeated champions earning $474,000 in doubles prize money.

How It Works

The ATP World Tour Finals – Doubles follows a structured format designed to highlight the best teams while ensuring competitive balance through round-robin play.

• Qualification: The top eight doubles teams based on ATP Doubles Team Rankings from January 1 to November 3 qualify for the event.
• Format: Teams are divided into two groups of four, playing a round-robin; the top two from each group advance to the semifinals.
• Scoring: Matches are best-of-three sets with a match tiebreak (first to 10 points) used in place of a third set.
• Seeding: The top two teams are seeded based on rankings, with draws determining group placement to avoid early matchups.
• Prize Money: Unbeaten champions earn $474,000, while round-robin losers receive $123,000, with incremental payouts for wins.
• Venue: The O2 Arena in London has hosted the event since 2009, offering a 17,000-seat capacity and state-of-the-art indoor hard courts.

Comparison at a Glance

Here’s how the 2014 doubles event compares to previous editions in terms of key metrics and outcomes:

The 2014 edition saw a slight increase in prize money compared to prior years, reflecting the ATP’s growing investment in doubles. The Bryan brothers’ victory underscored their dominance, as they became the first team to win four titles under the current format. Their consistency across the season and in London solidified their legacy in doubles history.

Why It Matters

The 2014 ATP World Tour Finals – Doubles was a landmark event for doubles tennis, highlighting both individual excellence and the sport’s evolving structure and financial incentives.

• Historic achievement: The Bryans tied the record for most year-end titles, joining Woodbridge and Woodforde with four championships.
• Global exposure: Broadcast to over 150 countries, the event raised the profile of doubles, often overshadowed by singles.
• Financial growth: The $2 million prize pool demonstrated the ATP’s commitment to rewarding doubles specialists.
• Competitive depth: The inclusion of teams like Dodig/Melo and Granollers/López showed increased parity in top-tier doubles.
• Legacy building: The tournament reinforced the O2 Arena as a premier venue and extended London’s role in the ATP calendar.
• Format validation: The round-robin system ensured multiple matches per team, enhancing fan engagement and player participation.

Ultimately, the 2014 event not only crowned champions but also advanced the visibility and prestige of doubles tennis within the global ATP Tour framework.