What Is 2015 Winston-Salem Open - Singles

Overview

The 2015 Winston-Salem Open was an ATP World Tour 250 series men's tennis tournament held on hard courts in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Played annually as a lead-in to the US Open, the 2015 edition served as a crucial final preparation event for top players.

This year marked the 47th edition of the tournament and featured a full field of 48 singles players competing in a single-elimination format. Matches were held at the Wake Forest University Tennis Complex from August 23 to August 29, 2015.

• Kevin Anderson claimed his first title of the 2015 season by winning the singles championship.
• He entered the tournament seeded third, reflecting his ATP ranking at the time.
• The final match lasted 2 hours and 48 minutes, showcasing intense baseline rallies and strong serving.
• Anderson overcame a first-set loss to defeat Lukáš Rosol in three sets: 6–7(9–11), 6–3, 7–6(7–4).
• The tournament awarded 250 ATP ranking points and a prize purse of $642,740 to the winner.

Match Structure and Tournament Format

The Winston-Salem Open follows a standard ATP 250 tournament format, with a 48-player draw and best-of-three sets for all matches except the final, which is best-of-three as well.

• Draw Size: The singles draw featured 48 players, with 16 seeded and 8 receiving byes to the second round.
• Seeding System: Players were seeded based on their ATP rankings as of August 17, 2015, with Kevin Anderson as the top seed.
• Qualifying Rounds: Held August 21–22, these included 24 players competing for 8 main draw spots.
• Match Format: All matches were played as best-of-three sets with a tiebreak at 6–6 in any set.
• Surface: The tournament used Plexicushion hard courts, the same surface as the US Open.
• Ball Type:Dunlop Fort Ace balls were used throughout the event, consistent with other US Open Series tournaments.

Comparison at a Glance

A comparison of the top finishers in the 2015 Winston-Salem Open singles draw highlights performance metrics and career context.

The table shows that while top seeds like Berdych and Čilić exited early, Anderson maintained consistency across all rounds. His victory over Rosol in a tight final demonstrated mental resilience and strong serving under pressure. The prize distribution reflects ATP 250 tier standards, with the winner earning just over 17% of the total purse.

Why It Matters

The 2015 Winston-Salem Open had significant implications for player rankings, US Open preparation, and the ATP calendar.

• Anderson’s win boosted his confidence heading into the 2015 US Open, where he reached the fourth round.
• Winning 250 ATP points helped him climb back into the top 15 rankings by September.
• The tournament provided critical match practice on hard courts for players adjusting from clay and grass seasons.
• It marked Lukáš Rosol’s best result of the 2015 season, revitalizing his campaign.
• Winston-Salem solidified its role as a key US Open Series event, linking summer tournaments to the Grand Slam.
• The event attracted over 45,000 attendees, underscoring its growing popularity in American tennis.

The 2015 edition reinforced the tournament’s reputation as a competitive and well-organized stop on the ATP Tour, contributing to player development and fan engagement in the southeastern United States.