What Is 2015 ATP World Tour Finals – Doubles

Overview

The 2015 ATP World Tour Finals – Doubles marked the season-ending championship for the top eight doubles teams of the year, based on their performance across the ATP Tour season. Held in London at The O2 Arena, the event brought together elite pairings competing for ranking points, prize money, and prestige.

This edition followed the round-robin format, where teams were divided into two groups of four, with the top two from each advancing to the semifinals. The tournament concluded with a decisive final that crowned a dominant pairing after a week of high-level competition.

• November 15–22, 2015 was the official tournament window, aligning with the men’s singles schedule at The O2 Arena in London.
• Jean-Julien Rojer and Horia Tecău emerged victorious, winning their first ATP Finals title as a team after a consistent season.
• The pair defeated Ivan Dodig and Marcelo Melo in the final with a score of 6–4, 6–3, showcasing strong net play and coordination.
• Rojer and Tecău entered the tournament as the third seeds and remained unbeaten in the round-robin stage, winning all three matches.
• The champions earned 200 ranking points and a share of the $510,000 prize pool designated for doubles teams.

How It Works

The ATP World Tour Finals structure rewards consistency and year-long performance, with qualification based on the ATP Doubles Race rankings. Only the top eight teams qualify, and they compete in a format designed to balance fairness and excitement.

• Qualification: Teams qualify based on the ATP Doubles Race, which tracks points earned from January through the end of the regular season. Only the top eight pairs participate.
• Round-Robin Stage: The eight teams are split into two groups of four, playing round-robin matches. The top two from each group advance to the semifinals.
• Scoring Format: Matches are best-of-three sets, with a match tiebreak (10-point) replacing the third set, a standard since 2008.
• Seeding: Teams are seeded based on their year-end ranking, with no. 1 and no. 2 seeds placed in separate groups to avoid early matchups.
• Prize Money: The 2015 doubles event offered a total of $510,000, with undefeated champions receiving the largest share.
• Ranking Points: An undefeated champion team earns 1,500 points, while round-robin losers still receive 200 points for participation.

Comparison at a Glance

The following table compares the 2015 doubles finalists across key performance metrics during the tournament:

This comparison highlights the dominance of Rojer and Tecău, who lost only one set—against Dodig/Melo in the group stage. Their consistency across all matches underscored their fitness and teamwork, key factors in their championship run. Other teams struggled with cohesion, especially lower-ranked pairs who were outmatched on serve and net play.

Why It Matters

The 2015 ATP World Tour Finals – Doubles was significant for cementing legacies and showcasing the depth of doubles tennis at the highest level. It also emphasized the importance of partnership chemistry and year-round endurance.

• Historic achievement: For Rojer and Tecău, this win marked their first year-end title, validating their status as elite doubles specialists.
• Rankings impact: The 1,500 points helped both players secure top-10 year-end doubles rankings, influencing seeding for the 2016 season.
• Team dynamics: The tournament highlighted how consistent partnerships outperform ad-hoc pairings, even among highly ranked individuals.
• Global representation: The finalists included players from the Netherlands, Romania, Croatia, and Brazil, reflecting the international nature of doubles tennis.
• Financial incentive: Prize money and bonuses from sponsorships make the Finals a crucial event for doubles players’ careers.
• Legacy value: Winning the ATP Finals is considered one of the highest honors in doubles tennis, alongside Grand Slam titles.

The 2015 edition reinforced the prestige of the ATP World Tour Finals and set a benchmark for future doubles competition, combining athleticism, strategy, and partnership excellence on a global stage.