DOUBLE DELIGHT FOR JOE & DESIRAE

JOE SALISBURY celebrated a US Open doubles double by taking the mixed title with American partner Desirae Krawczyk.

The Brit had won the men’s doubles title with Rajeev Ram, and yesterday, alongside his Californian partner Krawczyk, he defeated El Salvador’s Marcelo Arevalo and Giuliana Olmos of Mexico 7-5 6-2.

The British Davis Cup star became the first man since

American Bob Bryan in 2010 to win the US Open men’s and mixed doubles in the same year. And for Krawczyk, the win put her in an elite group of only seven other players, male or female, to have won three mixed Slams in the year.

Salisbury (left with Krawczyk) said: “It has been such an incredible couple of weeks back here with the fans back. It’s been so much fun.

“To come away with two titles, I couldn’t have even dreamt of that.

“Winning the title with Des has been amazing. We’ve had so much fun on the court together. I just can’t wait to be back on court here next year.”

It might have been the starter before the Raducanufernandez main course but it meant everything to the Britamerican partnership, who went into the match as No.2 seeds and favourites to beat their unseeded opponents. But they didn’t get it all their own way in the first set as Salisbury had to fend off five break points on his serve before he and Krawczyk made the vital breakthrough.

Losing the opener was a crushing blow to their opponents and Salisbury and Krawczyk took full advantage to break early in the second.

They didn’t look back and another break saw them home.