British doubles specialist Joe Salisbury has announced his retirement from professional tennis at the age of 34.
The six-time Grand Slam doubles champion – with four men’s doubles majors and two mixed doubles triumphs – reached the semi-finals of the US Open men’s doubles last week with long-term partner Rajeev Ram.
Yet four months after returning to the game following a five-month break due to anxiety, the Putney-local has decided to call time on his impressive career and disclosed the news via an emotional post on Instagram.
“I’ve decided I’m retiring from professional tennis,” he said. “I’ve been thinking about it for a while and am now very happy with the decision.
“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. 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.
“I gave it my all and know I can be proud and look back with no regrets.”
After attending college at the University of Memphis, Salisbury got his big break in 2018 (aged 26) when he reached the semi-finals of the men’s doubles at Wimbledon with Frederik Nielsen.
Salisbury then linked up with American player Ram, with whom he won four Grand Slams: the 2020 Australian Open, followed by US Open victories in 2021, 2022 and 2023. The pair also reached world No 1 in 2022 and won the ATP Tour Finals in 2022 and 2023.
The Briton also won two mixed doubles majors: the 2021 French Open and 2021 US Open with American player Desirae Krawczyk. Salisbury also represented Great Britain in Davis Cup and at the 2020 and 2024 Olympic Games.
He added: “The best thing about it all has been the people I’ve met along the way and shared these times with and many of them will be the closest people to me for the rest of my life.
“I feel so lucky to have had so much amazing support and there are too many people to mention but I am grateful to you all. A special thanks to my parents, Natalie, Rajeev, Justin, Louis, Dave, TC, Ed and the LTA. Without all of you I could not have done this so thank you.
“I’m not sure what’s next for me but I know I have so much to look forward to and so much to be happy right now and I know that all the highs and lows, good times and bad on this crazy tennis journey have made me a stronger and better person.”
