- September 18, 2026 4:00 am
Photo by Macourt Media on PexelsSix-time Grand Slam champion and former world number one doubles player, Joe Salisbury, has announced his retirement from professional tennis at the age of 34.
Salisbury concluded his career at this month’s US Open, reaching the semi-finals alongside his long-time partner Rajeev Ram. The venue held particular significance as Salisbury and Ram made history in 2023 by becoming the first pair to win three consecutive US Open men’s doubles titles, as reported by the BBC.
Hailing from Putney, Salisbury retires as Great Britain’s most successful men’s doubles player in the Open Era. His impressive haul includes four Grand Slam men’s doubles titles: the Australian Open in 2020 with Rajeev Ram, and the US Open in 2021, 2022, and 2023, also with Ram. He also secured two mixed doubles trophies with Desirae Krawczyk, winning at Roland Garros and the US Open in 2021.
Beyond his Grand Slam success, Salisbury amassed 17 tour-level titles during his career. This included the prestigious season-ending ATP Finals in both 2022 and 2023. He made his professional debut in 2011, going on to achieve the world No.1 doubles ranking and representing Team GB at the 2020 and 2024 Olympic Games, as well as playing seven ties for his country in the Davis Cup.
Salisbury shared his decision on Instagram, stating he had been “thinking about it for a while and am now very happy with the decision.” He reflected on his career, saying, “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.” Salisbury described playing tennis as his job as “a dream come true” and expressed pride, noting he could “look back with no regrets,” according to the LTA.
Earlier this year, Salisbury took a three-month break after discussing with BBC Sport the anxiety he had been experiencing on tour. While he believed it did not significantly impact his on-court performance, he admitted it left him with a “feeling of dread,” which diminished his enjoyment of life on the road.
Tributes poured in for Salisbury, recognising his significant contribution to British tennis. Scott Lloyd, LTA Chief Executive, congratulated Joe on “an outstanding career” and praised him as “one of the most successful doubles players of his generation.” Lloyd added that Salisbury is admired for his “professionalism and humility.”
Louis Cayer, Salisbury’s long-time coach and LTA Senior Performance Advisor, highlighted Salisbury’s journey to becoming a world No.1 with six Slam titles. Cayer lauded his former student as an “outstanding athlete and competitor while always remaining humble, thoughtful and respectful,” further describing his “athleticism as legendary on the tour” and his “remarkable coverage at the net.”
Q: How many Grand Slam titles did Joe Salisbury win?
A: Joe Salisbury won six Grand Slam doubles titles: four in men’s doubles and two in mixed doubles.
Q: What was Joe Salisbury’s final tournament?
A: Joe Salisbury’s final professional event was the US Open this month, where he reached the semi-finals with Rajeev Ram.
Q: Why did Joe Salisbury retire?
A: Joe Salisbury stated he had been considering his future for a while and was “very happy with the decision.” He had also previously spoken about experiencing anxiety on tour that made life on the road less enjoyable.
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