Six-time Grand Slam champion Joe Salisbury retires after US Open semi-final

Joe Salisbury has retired from professional tennis after reaching the semi-finals at this month’s US Open with long-time partner Rajeev Ram, Salisbury announced on Thursday.

The 34-year-old is a former world number one in doubles and a six-time Grand Slam champion, having won men's doubles titles at the Australian Open and the US Open, and two mixed doubles crowns with Desirae Krawczyk. He is recognised in the article as Britain’s most successful men’s doubles player of the Open Era.

Salisbury’s most notable partnership was with Rajeev Ram; the pair reached the semi-finals at this month’s US Open and Ram had also decided to retire. In 2023 Salisbury and Ram became the first pair in history to win three consecutive US Open men's doubles titles, and together they won the 2020 Australian Open.

Salisbury said he had been considering his future for some time and is now "very happy with the decision." On Instagram he reflected: "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," and added, "I gave it my all and know I can be proud and look back with no regrets."

He took a three month break at the start of this year and spoke to BBC Sport about anxiety affecting him on tour, saying it left him with a "feeling of dread" that made life on the road far less enjoyable. Salisbury told the outlet he did not think the anxiety affected his tennis very much.

Salisbury concludes his career with 17 tour-level titles, including the season-ending ATP Finals of 2022 and 2023.

He had chosen this month’s US Open as his final event.