JOE’S JOY IN BATTLE OF BRITS
Murray is denied 8th Grand Slam
JOE SALISBURY won the Battle of the Brits to grab his second men’s doubles Grand Slam title with American partner Rajeev Ram at the US Open.
The Englishman got the better of Davis Cup team-mate Jamie Murray and his Brazilian partner Bruno Soares, coming from behind to win 3-6 6-2 6-2.
Salisbury and Ram backed up their Australian Open triumph last year and could not hide their delight.
Salisbury said: “It’s amazing to be out here. It was my first time playing on Arthur Ashe and in front of an amazing crowd.
“To have won this with Rajeev is a dream come true. I have to thank Rajeev for being an incredible partner for the past three years. I couldn’t ask to be on the court with anyone better.”
The only certainty as the players walked on court at noon was that a Briton would be leaving as a Grand Slam winner.
Murray has been there with Soares before, having won the US Open doubles title in 2016 and their route to the final had been far more comfortable than that of Salisbury and Ram. Murray was going for his eighth Grand Slam title and his volleying skills at the net, allied to his Brazilian partner’s returning skills, were largely responsible for his team nosing in front with a break of serve in the seventh game and they took the set 6-3 in 35 minutes.
The Brit-American duo bounced straight back with a break of Murray’s serve in the first game of the second set and they quickly moved to a 3-0 lead.
They did not look back, won the set 6-2, and it went to the decider. And when Salisbury and Ram broke Murray in the opening game, the momentum was firmly in their favour and another break left them on the brink of victory. A backhand volley from Ram on match point got the job done.