Joe Salisbury, Britain's most successful men's doubles player of the Open era and a six-time Grand Slam champion, has ended his professional tennis career following his exit from the 2026 US Open. The 34-year-old Londoner reached the semi-finals of the tournament with his long-time partner Rajeev Ram, who had also chosen to retire at the same event. According to , Salisbury announced his retirement on Instagram after the pair's semi-final defeat.
The timing of Salisbury's farewell held particular significance. In 2023, he and Ram became the first pairing in history to capture three consecutive US Open men's doubles titles, making the venue an especially fitting location for his final tournament. According to international tennis coverage, Salisbury and Ram's semi-final loss came against Kevin Krawietz and Tim Pütz.
Salisbury's Grand Slam doubles achievements extended beyond his US Open success. He won the 2020 Australian Open with Ram and captured two mixed doubles titles alongside Desirae Krawczyk. Across his career, he accumulated 17 tour-level titles, including victories at the season-ending ATP Finals in both 2022 and 2023.
Why did Salisbury decide to retire now?
The former world number one had been contemplating his future for some time. Earlier in 2026, he took a three-month break from competition after experiencing anxiety while on tour. Though he did not believe the mental health struggles significantly impaired his tennis performance, he described being left with a persistent "feeling of dread" that diminished his enjoyment of life on the professional circuit.
Upon his return to competition, Salisbury reunited with Ram, the partner with whom he had achieved his greatest Grand Slam success. This reunion proved meaningful for both players.
"I thought I could go on [until the] end of this year, maybe next year but I felt like it was nice to finish my career playing with him at the US Open where we had our success, and we had a good run making the semi-finals to finish,"Salisbury explained in an interview with a national broadcaster.
What did Salisbury say about his career?
In his retirement announcement, Salisbury reflected on a career that exceeded his own expectations.
"Tennis has been my life for as long as I can remember and I have been incredibly fortunate to have had all the opportunities, experiences and success that I have,"he posted on Instagram.
"To be able to travel the world and call playing tennis my job has been a dream come true and I never believed I could have lived the life and had the career that I have."
He expressed satisfaction with his efforts throughout his professional journey.
"I gave it my all and know I can be proud and look back with no regrets,"Salisbury added in his statement.
How does Salisbury's retirement fit into recent tennis transitions?
Salisbury's decision to retire follows a pattern of established players stepping away from professional tennis in 2026. French veteran Gaël Monfils concluded his 22-year Grand Slam career at the same US Open, while British player Dan Evans bid farewell to professional tennis earlier in the year. These retirements reflect a natural cycle within professional tennis as players reach the end of their competitive careers.
According to the Lawn Tennis Association, Salisbury's official retirement from professional tennis was confirmed following his exit from the 2026 US Open. His departure marks the end of an era for British men's doubles, as he leaves behind a legacy as the nation's most accomplished male doubles player in the Open era.
Key Facts
- Salisbury won six Grand Slam doubles titles, including three consecutive US Open championships with Rajeev Ram from 2021 to 2023
- He captured 17 tour-level titles across his career, including back-to-back ATP Finals victories in 2022 and 2023
- The 34-year-old took a three-month break earlier in 2026 to address anxiety affecting his experience on tour
- Salisbury and Ram reached the 2026 US Open semi-finals before retiring as a partnership at the same tournament
- He is recognised as Britain's most successful men's doubles player of the Open era
