Ram and Salisbury Eye Nitto ATP Finals Title Defense After US Open Triumph
American-British Duo Aims to Continue Impressive Streak
Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury, the formidable American-British doubles team, have set their sights on yet another title defense as they prepare for the Nitto ATP Finals. This comes after their remarkable achievement of capturing the US Open title for a third consecutive year in September.
The dynamic duo has been in exceptional form, with a late-season surge that saw them claim victory in two of their past three events. Their most memorable triumph came in New York, where they secured their fourth major team trophy.
Reflecting on their success, Ram expressed his belief that their outstanding performance at the US Open was no coincidence. “We’ve had great success there and we’ve done well. I don’t think you can ever just assume that you’re going to win a major,” Ram shared on the ATP Podcast. “But we seem to play our best there for sure. For whatever reason, I think a lot of things suit our game [there], and as tennis players, we tend to do well at places we’ve done well before.”
Winning the US Open three times in a row is a significant achievement that Ram considers special. He acknowledges that even with consistent strong performances, luck plays a role in securing such consecutive victories.
Despite a slow start to the season, Ram and Salisbury have qualified for the Nitto ATP Finals for the fifth consecutive year. A second consecutive title in Turin would be the perfect way to conclude their year on a high note.
Salisbury emphasized the importance of their US Open triumph, stating, “It’s tough to say it’s not been a good year when we’ve won a Grand Slam. Had we not won the US Open, it would have been a very poor year by our standards. But the fact that we did that, we always say that we want to do the best at the biggest tournaments, and we managed to win one of the Grand Slams, so that’s obviously a huge achievement.”
The duo’s ultimate goal is to become the number one team, setting high standards for themselves and measuring their success against the best. While they acknowledge they have a long way to go this year, they remain determined to reach the top.
With an impressive 12-5 record at the year-end event, Ram and Salisbury have emerged victorious in nine of their last ten matches in Turin. Their journey began with a round-robin exit in their first appearance, but they have steadily progressed each year, reaching the semi-finals in 2020, finishing as runners-up in 2021, and ultimately clinching the championship last year. Their sixth trip to the Nitto ATP Finals promises to add more cherished memories to their collection.
Ram fondly recalls his first qualification for the event, describing it as a significant achievement. “To be there with the top eight singles guys, it’s just a different feel. It’s a smaller group of people, they do really make an effort to make you feel special, which is really nice,” he shared. “Then last year winning it, we went undefeated. We got close the year before, we were undefeated until the final, but to win it and especially to go undefeated is really special.”
Salisbury also reminisced about their initial qualification, highlighting the incredible experience of playing at the O2 Arena in London. He expressed his pride in their continuous improvement each year, culminating in their victorious campaign last year. The Nitto ATP Finals hold a special place in their hearts, and they are eager to create more unforgettable moments at the prestigious tournament.
As Ram and Salisbury gear up for the Nitto ATP Finals, their remarkable journey and unwavering determination make them a formidable force to watch out for. Tennis enthusiasts around the world eagerly await their performance, as they strive to defend their title and solidify their status as one of the best doubles teams in the world.