The most unexpected ending for Ram and Salisbury

A Grand Slam is so immense that it does not allow to cover all fronts properly, not even for us who are dedicated to it. In this US Open, in the men's doubles draw, we suffered a loss that will be missed. Rajeev Ram, at 42 years old, announced his professional retirement after falling in the semifinals. Until this point, nothing too surprising.

Beside him, as could only be the case, was Joe Salisbury, the partner with whom he united his forces for so many years to conquer four Grand Slams and two ATP Finals, among many other achievements. The meeting was very special because they had been seeing each other from afar for some seasons, but Ram understood that there would be no better person to say goodbye to than the one with whom he touched the sky so many times. And the Brit accepted, of course. Krawietz and Puetz were the chosen ones to cut their path in the semifinals, although their journey by that point was already outstanding. It was then that the first farewell was officially announced.

At 42 years old and with no one knowing anything, Ram announced that that match had been the last of his career. There was no better stage. New York, his tournament, his audience, with his lifelong partner, and on a court that meant so much to him. Three-time US Open champion, six Grand Slam titles, two Olympic medals, and the world number one decorate a career that no longer needed any additional chapters.

Once more at ease, at the microphones of Tennis Channel, the American explained that he had tried to push the idea of retirement aside throughout the tournament. He wanted to compete as always, without turning each match into a premature farewell. "My intention was to enter this tournament thinking that we were going to perform well and that it wouldn't revolve around my last US Open," he said. When everything finally came to an end, he could finally look back and appreciate his great journey.

There he found a career much larger than he had ever dreamed. "All of this is incredible, probably more than I could have ever dreamed," he acknowledged. But among all the titles and records, Ram chose something much more personal as a source of pride: being able to serve as a reference for young people of Indian or South Asian descent. "If I can be an inspiration for one, two, or a few children of the next generation, that would mean so much to me." There was also time to remember his peak moment, winning his second US Open alongside Salisbury and becoming, thanks to that victory, the number one in the world. Precisely, New York was the place where everything fit together one last time.

Joe Salisbury completes the farewell of a legendary duo

With just this, I already had enough to outline the points of this tribute article to the great Rajeev Ram, but fresh news was about to arrive from Great Britain this Wednesday. Just four days after that match, last night Joe Salisbury announced that he is also leaving professional tennis. At 34 years old, the Brit brings an end to a career inseparable from Ram, with those four Grand Slams conquered hand in hand and a decade forming one of the most successful pairs of their generation.

Great Britain’s most successful men’s doubles player in the Open Era 🩵

Joe Salisbury has officially announced his retirement from professional tennis pic.twitter.com/MQH1wmMVHo

— LTA (@the_LTA) September 16, 2026

In New York, a few days ago, no one knew anything. Or perhaps they did? Now we all know that, without realizing it at the time, this pair of the era was writing their last verses together. Today that semifinal against the Germans has a very different reading. It was not just Rajeev Ram's last match, but the last match of Ram and Salisbury. Together. Forever.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El final más inesperado para Ram y Salisbury