On top of his game with No. 1 ranking
Former Uofm tennis star Joe Salisbury sits on top of the world
Glance at the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) World Tour’s singles rankings and legendary, future Hall of Fame names stare back.
There’s Novak Djokovic, winner of 20 Grand Slam tournament titles, listed No. 1, a few places ahead of Spain’s Rafael Nadal, winner of a record 21 Grand Slam titles. Rising young stars Daniil Medvedev, Alexander Zverev and Stefanos Tsitsipas – destined eventually to supplant Djokovic, Nadal and Roger Federer as multiple Grand Slam champions – are firmly settled into the top 5.
As for the doubles rankings? When those were updated Monday, there was a relative unknown, but a familiar name to Memphisarea tennis fans, climbing to No. 1 in the world.
Former University of Memphis tennis standout Joe Salisbury, who played for coach Paul Goebel and the Tigers from 2010 to 2014, ascended to the top, a remarkable achievement for the London-area native who wasn’t highly recruited because of a youth tennis career hampered by injuries and illness.
He became only the third player from Great Britain to reach a No. 1 world ranking, joining Andy Murray (singles) and his brother, Jamie Murray (doubles).
“It’s a pretty special achievement,” Salisbury said. “Back when I was at Memphis, I wasn’t even sure I was going to keep playing after college. I obviously had a pretty good run there (at Memphis) and I always thought I wanted to give (pro tennis) a shot, but I never thought I’d get to the position I’m in now.”
Salisbury thrives on a big stage
It is an unprecedented first for a former Uofm player.
While the Tigers have had several players in their history enjoy success on tennis’ world-wide circuit, most notably Mel Purcell and Chip Hooper in the 1980s, no former Tiger has been ranked No 1.
Purcell rose to No. 20 in the world in the fall of 1980 and reached the quarterfinals of Wimbledon in 1983, his greatest accomplishment.
Hooper reached the top 20 in singles and doubles during his career, ascending to a career-best No. 17 in singles in 1982. He also won five doubles titles.
Salisbury, 29, has surpassed their achievements, teaming with partner Rajeev Ram of the United States to win five of his eight titles, including two Grand Slam events: the 2020 Australian Open and the 2021 U.S. Open.
Although it doesn’t play into the men’s doubles rankings, he also owns two Grand Slam mixed doubles titles, teaming with Desirae Krawczyk to win the French Open and U.S. Open in 2021.
“I’ve been thinking it was a possibility for him (to be the world’s No. 1 doubles player) for the last year and a half,” Goebel said. “Every time I watch him, he seems to be getting better and better and his passion and drive seem to be getting better and better, too.”
Goebel said what impressed him most when Salisbury was playing at the Uofm was his focus and intensity on the day of a match. He said Salisbury thrives on a big stage, which was evident when he and his Uofm doubles partner, David O’hare, earned a doubles wild card into the 2014 U.S. National Indoor Tennis Championships, Memphis’ former ATP World Tour event played at The Racquet Club.
Despite drawing the world’s top-ranked team of Mike and Bob Bryan in the opening round, Salisbury and O’hare were not intimidated by the moment. The Uofm’s No. 1 doubles team – which reached as high as No. 3 in the national college rankings – played valiantly in a straight-sets loss. The experience was invaluable.
“I think seeing how comfortable Joe and David looked against them was what I remember,” Goebel said. “Looking back, they could have won that match. They were not overwhelmed (in a 6-4, 6-3 defeat). They felt they belonged. Joe has had that self-belief all along.”
O’hare rejoined Salisbury at the beginning of the year to serve as team coach for Salisbury and Ram. He previously worked with Salisbury in 2019, but left to pursue an assistant coaching job under Goebel at the Uofm. O’hare was looking forward to returning to Memphis, but issues with his visa derailed the opportunity.
“Paul felt terrible at the time that it didn’t work out,” O’hare said. “But he’s so glad that I’ve landed on my feet.”
“Every time I watch him, he seems to be getting better and better and his passion and drive seem to be getting better and better, too.” Paul Goebel
Memphis tennis coach
A coach who took a chance
Goebel said he now owns a rare distinction among his peers: a college coach who can lay claim to having had both the No. 1 doubles player in the world and the coach of the No. 1 doubles player in the world on his roster.
Goebel said he originally traveled to England more than a decade ago to look at other potential tennis players for the Uofm. When he arrived at the national tennis center in Roehampton, he was told that a woman who worked there had a son who was a solid player. The woman was Salisbury’s mother, Carolyn.
“I spoke to Joe for about an hour and a half,” Goebel said. “He hadn’t played much the previous few years because of back issues and mono, but I could tell he had a passion to get back playing at a high level. It was risky on my part.”
But the gamble for Goebel paid off. Although Salisbury’s training sessions had to be scaled back when he arrived at the Uofm, the talent eventually emerged. Salisbury finished his Memphis career with the most doubles victories (97) in school history and his 25 singles wins during his senior year also represented a Uofm record at the time.
“At first I didn’t know no if he was going to be a good player,” Goebel said. “But then I saw him compete. Every match day he was at his best. He still is like that. The bigger the match, the better he plays. I don’t know if any coach can coach that into someone.”
Said Salisbury: “He took a chance on me and I’ll always be grateful for that.”
A breakthrough moment
Five years ago, Salisbury moved into the top 100 doubles rankings and in 2018 had, what he recalls, as his breakthrough. He advanced to the 2018 Wimbledon semifinals with Danish partner Frederick Nielsen, an accomplished doubles player and 2012 Wimbledon doubles champion. The experience was surreal and remains a career highlight.
“I kind of jumped up in the (world) rankings after that,” Salisbury said. “Then I won a couple of tournaments at the end of that year. That’s when I thought ‘Wow, I could give this thing a pretty good go, maybe win some of the big tournaments, and get up there in the rankings.’
“But I’m not certain I ever thought I’d get up to No. 1.” O’hare may have had more belief in his former college doubles partner, who has spent most of the past two years ranked in the top 20. He’s relishing being a part of the success.
“It’s amazing really,” O’hare said. “It’s great to be part of that journey. I’m definitely very proud, especially thinking all those years ago that this could be a realistic goal. To go from our days back in Memphis to where we are now is sensational."
As word surfaced last week that Salisbury would become the top doubles player in the world, the British press gave him ample attention. Salisbury has been doing his share of interviews.
His only regret is that his partner, Ram, won’t be ranked co-no. 1. Ram played a tournament without Salisbury last year and accrued several fewer rankings points than Salisbury during the revolving yearly cycle. He and Ram, who became the world’s No. 2 doubles player when Monday’s rankings were released, have won five titles together since 2019.
The journey is not over. Salisbury, who turns 30 on
“Whenever my career ends, I will always be a No. 1.
And that’s pretty cool.”
Joe Salisbury
Professional tennis player
April 20, has more major titles to pursue. Nothing would satisfy him more than a victory at the sport’s hallowed grounds of Wimbledon, which are only minutes from where he grew up and where he recently purchased a home.
Still, what he’s accomplished so far has been rewarding.
“Whenever my career ends, I will always be a No. 1,” Salisbury said. “And that’s pretty cool.”
Freelancer Phil Stukenborg is a former staff writer and deputy sports editor for The Commercial Appeal, You can reach him at philstukenborg@gmail.com.