What Is 2017 Grand Est Open 88 - Doubles

Overview

The 2017 Grand Est Open 88 – Doubles was a professional women’s tennis competition held as part of the ITF Women’s Circuit. Taking place in Contrexéville, France, the event attracted international players competing on outdoor clay courts, a surface known for slower ball speed and higher bounce.

The tournament served as a key warm-up event for players preparing for late-summer clay and hard court seasons across Europe. It provided valuable ranking points and prize money, contributing to the development of emerging talent on the women’s tour.

• Event Dates: The tournament ran from July 10 to July 16, 2017, aligning with the European clay-court swing following the French Open.
• Location: Held in Contrexéville, a historic spa town in northeastern France, known for hosting ITF-level events annually.
• Surface: Matches were played on outdoor red clay courts, which favor baseline players and longer rallies.
• Tournament Level: Classified as a $80,000+H event, indicating prize money and hospitality support from organizers.
• Participants: Featured a 32-player singles draw and 16-team doubles draw, including several top-ranked ITF competitors.

How the Doubles Tournament Works

The doubles competition followed a standard knockout format with seeded teams and straight-elimination matches. Teams were paired based on rankings, wild cards, and qualifying results, competing for ranking points and a share of the prize purse.

• Format: The doubles draw consisted of 16 teams competing in a single-elimination bracket, with matches played in best-of-three sets.
• Scoring: Standard tiebreak rules applied, including a match tiebreak (first to 10 points) in place of a third set.
• Seeding: The top four doubles teams were seeded based on combined rankings to avoid early-round matchups between favorites.
• Wild Cards: Two wild card entries were awarded, including the French pair Léolia Jeanjean and Estelle Cascino.
• Final Match: Jeanjean and Cascino won the title by defeating the second-seeded duo of Ysaline Bonaventure and Maryna Zanevska, 6–4, 7–5.
• Prize Money: The doubles champions received $2,220 in prize money, part of the overall $80,000+H purse distributed across singles and doubles events.

Comparison at a Glance

Below is a comparison of the 2017 Grand Est Open 88 – Doubles with similar ITF events held the same week across Europe:

This comparison highlights how the Grand Est Open 88 stood out due to its higher prize money and status as one of the most competitive $80K+H events in Europe during July 2017. Its clay surface and location made it a strategic stop for French and Eastern European players building momentum.

Why It Matters

The 2017 Grand Est Open 88 – Doubles played an important role in the development of women’s tennis at the ITF level, offering players a platform to earn points and gain experience. Its impact extends beyond the title, influencing career trajectories and national representation.

• Career Development: Winning or performing well in events like this helped players transition to higher-level WTA tournaments.
• French Representation: The victory by Jeanjean and Cascino boosted visibility for French women’s tennis outside the Grand Slam circuit.
• Clay-Court Preparation: The event served as a strategic tune-up for players aiming to compete in late-summer clay events across Europe.
• Prize Money Access: The $80,000+H purse provided crucial financial support for independent players not on major sponsorships.
• Seeding Influence: Strong performances here affected ITF rankings, influencing future tournament entries and seedings.
• Event Legacy: As the 12th edition of the tournament, it reinforced Contrexéville’s reputation as a reliable host for professional women’s tennis.

The 2017 edition underscored the importance of regional ITF events in sustaining the global tennis ecosystem, bridging the gap between amateur competition and the professional tour.