What Is 2015 Grand Prix Hassan II – Doubles

Overview

The 2015 Grand Prix Hassan II – Doubles was a professional men's tennis event held as part of the ATP World Tour 250 series. Taking place on outdoor clay courts in Casablanca, Morocco, it featured an international field of doubles teams competing for ranking points and prize money.

Hosted at the Complexe Al Amal, the tournament ran from April 6 to April 12, 2015. It marked the 31st edition of the Grand Prix Hassan II, one of the few ATP events held in Africa. The doubles competition followed a standard 16-team draw format with seeded pairs.

• Champions: Rameez Junaid of Australia and Adil Shamasdin of Canada claimed the title after winning the final in straight sets.
• Final Match: The championship match concluded with a 6–4, 6–4 victory over the Spanish-Dutch pair of Guillermo García-López and Matwé Middelkoop.
• Seeding: The top-seeded team was Treat Huey and Max Mirnyi, but they were eliminated in the semifinals.
• Surface: All matches were played on red clay, a surface known for longer rallies and strategic play.
• Prize Money: The tournament offered a total purse of $483,850, with the doubles winners receiving $48,000 and 250 ATP ranking points.

How It Works

The doubles format at the 2015 Grand Prix Hassan II followed standard ATP Tour regulations, including best-of-three sets and a match tiebreak in place of a third set if needed. Players competed in a knockout structure with predetermined seeds based on ATP rankings.

• Draw Size: The doubles draw included 16 teams, with eight seeded pairs and the remainder qualifying via rankings or wild cards.
• Seeding System: Seeds were determined by combined ATP rankings, ensuring top pairs avoided early matchups.
• Match Format: All matches were best-of-three sets, with a 10-point match tiebreak replacing the third set if the score reached one set all.
• Wild Cards: Two wild card entries were granted, including a Moroccan pair who received local support.
• Points Allocation: The winners earned 250 ATP ranking points, while semifinalists received 150 points.
• Clay Court Strategy: The slow red clay surface favored baseline consistency and endurance, impacting team positioning and shot selection.

Comparison at a Glance

The 2015 Grand Prix Hassan II – Doubles can be better understood by comparing it to similar ATP events in terms of ranking level, surface, and prize structure.

As shown, the Grand Prix Hassan II ranked among mid-tier ATP events, offering competitive prize money and points comparable to other clay-court ATP 250 tournaments. Its unique status as the only ATP event in Africa adds cultural and geographic significance, attracting players aiming to gain clay-court experience ahead of the European season.

Why It Matters

The 2015 Grand Prix Hassan II – Doubles was more than just a regional tournament; it played a role in the broader ATP calendar and provided opportunities for doubles specialists and emerging players.

• Global Representation: The event showcased international talent, with finalists from Canada, Australia, Spain, and the Netherlands.
• African Tennis Development: As the only ATP Tour event in Africa, it promotes tennis growth across the continent.
• Clay-Court Preparation: Players used it as a warm-up for the French Open, gaining valuable match experience on clay.
• Doubles Opportunities: The tournament allowed doubles specialists like Shamasdin to earn critical ranking points.
• Wild Card Inclusion: Local wild cards helped develop Moroccan tennis by giving home players exposure to top-level competition.
• ATP Calendar Stability: The consistent scheduling of the event since 1984 highlights its importance in the ATP 250 series.

Overall, the 2015 edition reinforced the tournament’s role in supporting player development, regional engagement, and the global reach of professional tennis.