Joe Salisbury retires from tennis after six Grand Slam
British doubles specialist Joe Salisbury, 34, has announced his retirement from professional tennis. The six-time Grand Slam champion made the announcement via an emotional social media post.
British doubles player Joe Salisbury has retired from professional tennis at the age of 34. The six-time Grand Slam champion announced his decision in an emotional statement posted on Instagram on Wednesday.
Salisbury cited a period of reflection following a recent return from a five-month break, which he took due to anxiety. "I've decided I'm retiring from professional tennis," he wrote. "I've been thinking about it for a while and am now very happy with the decision." He described his career as a dream and stated he could look back with no regrets.
Career Highlights and Partnership
Salisbury's breakthrough came in 2018 when he reached the Wimbledon men's doubles semi-finals with Frederik Nielsen. His most successful partnership was with American Rajeev Ram. Together, they won four Grand Slam men's doubles titles and reached the world No. 1 ranking in 2022.
The pair's major victories and other key achievements are detailed below.
| Achievement | Tournament/Event | Year(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Men's Doubles Titles | Australian Open | 2020 |
| Men's Doubles Titles | US Open | 2021, 2022, 2023 |
| Year-End Championship | ATP Tour Finals | 2022, 2023 |
| Mixed Doubles Titles | French Open, US Open | 2021 (both) |
Mixed Doubles and Olympic Career
Beyond men's doubles, Salisbury also secured two mixed doubles Grand Slam titles. He won both the 2021 French Open and the 2021 US Open while partnering American Desirae Krawczyk. He also represented Great Britain in team competitions, playing Davis Cup and competing at both the 2020 and 2024 Olympic Games.
His final tournament was last week's US Open, where he and Ram reached the men's doubles semi-finals.
Gratitude and Future Plans
In his retirement announcement, Salisbury expressed profound gratitude for the people he met through the sport. The best thing about it all has been the people I've met along the way, he said. He thanked his parents, his partner Natalie, his long-time playing partner Rajeev Ram, and several coaches and support staff.
While uncertain about his next steps, Salisbury sounded a positive note about the future. He concluded that the journey had made him a stronger person, finishing his statement by looking forward to what comes next.
