NEW YORK: the American Rajeev Ram and the Briton Joe Salisbury to beat Wesley Koolhof and neal skupski 7-6(4), 7-5 on Friday to become just the second pair to retain the US Open men’s doubles title.
Playing together at their fourth US Open, Ram and Salisbury enjoyed great success at Flushing Meadows.
They reached the semi-finals in 2020 before winning back-to-back titles on the ground at Arthur Ashe Stadium to join the Australian duo of Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde in 1995-96 as the only Open-era pair to stage a successful defense. .
“It’s pretty crazy. I can’t believe we’re still here,” said Salisbury, who retained his world No. 1 spot in doubles with the win.
“It’s so, so special to play in this incredible stadium and also to have this piece of history to have won twice in a row, it’s incredible.”
As expected, a final pitting number one seeds Ram and Salisbury against number two pair Dutchman Koolhof and Britain’s Skupski was a close affair from start to finish.
A tense first set produced just one break chance for Ram and Salisbury, who were unable to convert as the first set ended in a stalemate and a tiebreaker.
The first opening set to go to a tiebreaker in the men’s doubles final since 2010 looked to go to Koolhof and Skupski, who charged 4-1, but Ram and Salisbury swept the next six points to take a lead of a set.
Koolhof and Skupski, who have formed a new partnership this year, earned the first break of the contest to go up 2-1 in the second but Ram and Salisbury immediately responded with their own break to return to service.
The set appeared to be heading for another tiebreaker until Ram and Salisbury ended the contest, again smashing Koolhof and Skupski to seal the victory on the first match point.
“I had to come here the first year this stadium was open. I saw (Pete) Sampras win this tournament, I saw Andy Roddick win this tournament, Venus and Serena,” Ram said.
“To be part of this as an American, I don’t even know what to say,” he added.
Sampras has won the singles title five times while Roddick has won the trophy once. Venus and Serena have won the doubles title twice and have also been multiple singles crown winners.
Playing together at their fourth US Open, Ram and Salisbury enjoyed great success at Flushing Meadows.
They reached the semi-finals in 2020 before winning back-to-back titles on the ground at Arthur Ashe Stadium to join the Australian duo of Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde in 1995-96 as the only Open-era pair to stage a successful defense. .
“It’s pretty crazy. I can’t believe we’re still here,” said Salisbury, who retained his world No. 1 spot in doubles with the win.
“It’s so, so special to play in this incredible stadium and also to have this piece of history to have won twice in a row, it’s incredible.”
As expected, a final pitting number one seeds Ram and Salisbury against number two pair Dutchman Koolhof and Britain’s Skupski was a close affair from start to finish.
A tense first set produced just one break chance for Ram and Salisbury, who were unable to convert as the first set ended in a stalemate and a tiebreaker.
The first opening set to go to a tiebreaker in the men’s doubles final since 2010 looked to go to Koolhof and Skupski, who charged 4-1, but Ram and Salisbury swept the next six points to take a lead of a set.
Koolhof and Skupski, who have formed a new partnership this year, earned the first break of the contest to go up 2-1 in the second but Ram and Salisbury immediately responded with their own break to return to service.
The set appeared to be heading for another tiebreaker until Ram and Salisbury ended the contest, again smashing Koolhof and Skupski to seal the victory on the first match point.
“I had to come here the first year this stadium was open. I saw (Pete) Sampras win this tournament, I saw Andy Roddick win this tournament, Venus and Serena,” Ram said.
“To be part of this as an American, I don’t even know what to say,” he added.
Sampras has won the singles title five times while Roddick has won the trophy once. Venus and Serena have won the doubles title twice and have also been multiple singles crown winners.