What Is 2018 Winston-Salem Open - Doubles

Overview

The 2018 Winston-Salem Open – Doubles was a prominent men's tennis event held as part of the ATP World Tour 250 series. It featured top international doubles teams competing for ranking points and prize money ahead of the US Open.

Played on outdoor hard courts, the tournament served as a key late-summer warm-up for Grand Slam contenders. The final took place on August 25, 2018, concluding a week-long competition filled with upsets and strong performances.

• Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury claimed their first title together by defeating the experienced duo of Ivan Dodig and Édouard Roger-Vasselin in straight sets, 6–3, 6–4.
• The tournament was held at the Wake Forest University campus in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, a venue that has hosted the event since 2011.
• As an ATP 250 event, the doubles champions earned 250 ranking points and a share of the $605,180 total prize purse.
• Defending champions Łukasz Kubot and Marcelo Melo did not participate, opening the door for new pairings to emerge and compete for the title.
• The doubles draw consisted of 16 teams, with half seeded and the rest qualifying through preliminary matches or wild card entries.

Match Structure and Scoring

The doubles competition followed standard ATP rules, including best-of-three sets with a match tiebreak in place of a third set. This format encouraged aggressive play and quick transitions.

• Best-of-three sets: Matches were played in three sets, with the first team to win two sets advancing. The final was completed in two sets.
• Match tiebreak (10-point): If the match reached one set all, a 10-point tiebreak decided the winner instead of a full third set.
• No-ad scoring: In some rounds, no-ad scoring was used to speed up play, meaning the first team to four points won the game, with deuce going to the receiving team’s choice.
• Seeding: The top four doubles teams were seeded based on ATP rankings, with Ram/Salisbury unseeded but still reaching the final.
• Changeovers: Standard two-minute changeovers occurred after every odd-numbered game, with a 10-minute warm-up before the match began.
• Ball kids and officials: Each match had six ball kids and three on-court officials, including the chair umpire and two line judges.

Comparison at a Glance

Here’s how the 2018 Winston-Salem Open – Doubles compared to other ATP 250 events in North America during the same season:

While prize money varied slightly, the Winston-Salem Open offered one of the highest purses among ATP 250 events in the summer swing. Its timing just before the US Open made it a strategic stop for teams fine-tuning their form.

Why It Matters

The 2018 Winston-Salem Open – Doubles had lasting significance in the ATP calendar, influencing rankings and team dynamics heading into the final Grand Slam of the year.

• Launchpad for Joe Salisbury: This victory marked Salisbury’s breakthrough on the ATP Tour, setting the stage for his future Grand Slam success in doubles.
• Rajeev Ram’s consistency: Ram continued to solidify his reputation as a top doubles specialist, later achieving a world No. 1 ranking in 2020.
• US Open preparation: Many players used the event to acclimate to American hard courts, directly impacting their performance at Flushing Meadows.
• Team chemistry: Unseeded pairings like Ram and Salisbury demonstrated the value of adaptability and on-court synergy in short tournaments.
• ATP rankings boost: The 250 points earned helped both players climb the Race to London standings and qualify for year-end championships.
• Local economic impact: The tournament brought over $3.2 million in economic benefit to Winston-Salem, boosting tourism and local businesses.

Overall, the 2018 Winston-Salem Open – Doubles was more than just a warm-up event—it was a pivotal moment for emerging talent and a showcase of elite doubles tennis on the American circuit.