Joe Salisbury earned more than just a spot in the Miami quarter-finals after teaming with longtime partner Rajeev Ram for a 7-5, 7-6(2) win over Feliciano Lopez and Stefanos Tsitsipas on Sunday.
After Mate Pavic and Nikola Mektic lost their second-round match at the Miami Open presented by Itau, the 29-year-old Briton was guaranteed to replace Pavic at No. 1 in next week’s edition of the ATP Doubles Rankings — though he didn’t know it until he was told following his victory.
“It seems a bit crazy, to be honest. But yeah, so happy,” he said post-match.”This week, we’re focussing on doing as well as we can, trying to win this tournament in Miami. But yeah, obviously very satisfied. What we’ve done as a team, with Rajeev, to be No. 1 in the team rankings as well now, it’s pretty special.”
It will be Salisbury’s first time at the top spot, with his new status earned on the strength of titles at the 2021 US Open and the Toronto ATP Masters 1000 event — both alongside Ram, the current World No. 4. The pair also reached the championship match the Nitto ATP Finals in November.
“It’s always been a goal,” he said of the No. 1 position. “I think we’ve been focused more on winning tournaments as a team, winning Masters 1000s, winning Grand Slams. But yeah, obviously it’s amazing for us that we’re going to be going into tournaments as the No. 1 seed. To have the No. 1 ranking is amazing. It’s a special moment.”
Seeking a first Miami title, the British/American duo did not face a break point in the match and dropped just one point on first serve.
Next up for the second seeds is the wild card duo of Hubert Hurkacz and John Isner, who got past Austin Krajicek and Edouard Roger-Vasselin, 4-6, 6-3, 10-6, in the second round.
Rohan Bopanna and Denis Shapovalov ensured Salisbury’s rise to No. 1 with their 6-3, 7-6(3) win over Croatia’s top-seeded pairing of Pavic and Mektic. The Indian/Canadian duo saved the only break point they faced in the upset win.
Wesley Koolhof and Neal Skupski, the only other seeds in action Sunday, advanced with a 6-3, 7-6(8) win over Pedro Martinez and Lorenzo Sonego.
<img src="https://eltaszone.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/salisbury-to-take-over-top-spot-in-atp-doubles-rankings.jpg" alt="Wesley Koolhof, Neal Skupski“>
Photo Credit: Peter Staples/ATP Tour
After joining forces for the first time to start 2022, the Dutch/British team won three ATP Tour titles in their first six tournaments. They were turned back in the Indian Wells quarters by Salisbury and Ram.
The Round of 16 will continue on Monday in Miami.
Source Tennis – ATP World Tour
