What Is 2015 Open Sud de France - Doubles

Overview

The 2015 Open Sud de France – Doubles was a professional men's tennis doubles event held as part of the ATP World Tour 250 series. It took place in Montpellier, France, from February 2 to February 8, 2015, on indoor hard courts at the Sud de France Arena. The tournament featured a 16-team doubles draw, with top French and international players competing for ranking points and prize money.

This edition marked the 28th iteration of the Open Sud de France and included strong representation from French players aiming to capitalize on home advantage. The doubles competition followed standard ATP rules, with matches played in best-of-three sets, including a match tiebreak in lieu of a third set if necessary. The event concluded with a French victory, highlighting domestic strength in doubles tennis.

• Champions:Édouard Roger-Vasselin and Nicolas Mahut claimed the title by defeating Mate Pavić and Michael Venus in the final with a score of 7–6(7–3), 6–3.
• Tournament level: The event was classified as an ATP World Tour 250 tournament, offering 250 ranking points to the winners.
• Surface: Matches were played on indoor hard courts, a surface known for fast-paced play and favoring aggressive net strategies.
• Prize money: The total prize purse for the tournament was $500,000, with a portion allocated to the doubles winners.
• French dominance: The victory by Roger-Vasselin and Mahut marked the second consecutive year a French pair won the doubles title in Montpellier.

How It Works

The doubles format at the Open Sud de France followed standard ATP doubles rules, with modifications for efficiency in smaller tournaments. Teams competed in a single-elimination bracket, with seeding based on ATP rankings. Matches were best-of-three sets, with a match tiebreak (first to 10 points) used in place of a third set.

• Match format:Best-of-three sets with a match tiebreak replacing the third set if the first two sets were split.
• Seeding: The top four doubles teams were seeded based on their combined ATP rankings to avoid early-round clashes.
• Draw size: The doubles draw featured 16 teams, including 12 direct acceptances, 2 qualifiers, and 2 wild card entries.
• Wild cards:Two French pairs received wild cards, including the eventual champions Roger-Vasselin and Mahut.
• Scoring: Standard tennis scoring applied, with tiebreaks at 6–6 in any set, including a 7-point tiebreak in the first two sets.
• Duration: Matches typically lasted 60 to 90 minutes, with the final lasting 72 minutes.

Comparison at a Glance

The following table compares key aspects of the 2015 Open Sud de France – Doubles with other ATP 250 events held the same year.

The Open Sud de France stood out for its indoor hard court surface and strong French participation. Unlike clay-court ATP 250s such as Marrakech or Buenos Aires, Montpellier’s indoor setup favored faster rallies and serve-and-volley tactics. The tournament also had a higher concentration of local players due to wild card allocations, contributing to national interest.

Why It Matters

The 2015 Open Sud de France – Doubles was significant for both French tennis and the ATP Tour’s regional presence. It reinforced France’s reputation for producing elite doubles specialists and provided valuable ranking points for players early in the season. The event also boosted local engagement and showcased Montpellier as a consistent host of international tennis.

• National pride: The win by Roger-Vasselin and Mahut sparked celebrations in France, reinforcing the country’s depth in doubles tennis.
• ATP rankings: The victory earned the pair 250 ATP points, helping them climb in the doubles rankings.
• Preparation for majors: The tournament served as a key warm-up for the 2015 French Open and other clay-court events.
• Player development: Younger players like Michael Venus gained experience despite losing in the final.
• Event sustainability: The tournament’s success helped secure its place on the ATP calendar through 2023.
• Media exposure: The final was broadcast live in over 30 countries, increasing the event’s global visibility.

Overall, the 2015 Open Sud de France – Doubles exemplified how regional ATP events contribute to the sport’s global structure, player development, and national tennis identities.