PARIS, FRANCE - JUNE 03: Joe Salisbury of Great Britain serves playin g with Rajeev Ram of the United States during their mens first round match against Salvatore Caruso of Italy and Davidovich Fokina of Spain during day five of the 2021 French Open at Roland Garros on June 03, 2021 in Paris, France. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Tennis | Doubles, ITF & Challenger Round Up | Joe Salisbury takes Cincinnati Masters doubles title

By Glenys Furness

  • Joe Salisbury claims second masters title of the year
  • The Brit only dropped one set en route
CINCINNATI, USA – Joe Salisbury & Rajeev Ram were the top seeds at the Western & Southern Open. The Brit/American pair only dropped one set at the event.

 

[table “ADPDAll” not found /]

 

Embed from Getty Images

Joe Salisbury & Rajeev Ram were the top seeds at the Western & Southern Open. As a result, the Brit/American received a Bye into the second round. In the second round the top seeds were against Thanasi Kokkinakis & Nick Kyrgios. The first set was very close, as the Australians stayed toe to toe with the top seeds. Kokkinakis & Kyrgios forced a tiebreak and eased through to take the lead. The top seeds re-grouped in the second set and dominated the Australians to level the match. The ensuing match tiebreak was very close, but Salisbury & Ram edged through to the next round 6-7(3), 6-2, 10-8.

The quarter-final saw the Brit/American against Karen Khachanov & Denis Shapovalov. Salisbury & Ram dominated the first set, losing only one game. The second set saw Khachanov & Shapovalov force a tiebreak in the second set. In the breaker neither pair would give an inch, eventually, the top seeds got the break and edged into the semi-final 6-1, 7-6(8).

In the semi-final Salisbury & Ram were against Santiago González & Édouard Roger-Vasselin. The Mexican/French pair stayed close to the top seeds in both sets. However, the Brit/American were able to secure the break of serve to move into the final 6-4, 7-5.

The final pitched the top seeds against the sixth seeds Michael Venus & Tim Putz. Fittingly, both sets went to a tiebreak, as neither side could get the decisive breaks. In the first set tiebreak the Brit/American eased through and were one set away from another Masters title. The second tiebreak was closer, and Salisbury & Ram edged through and lifted the title 7-6(4), 7-6(5).

 

Browse the Britwatch Sports Amazon Page for our latest Tennis equipment recommendations

 

Doubles, ITF & Challenger Round Up

Dan Evans with John Peers were defeated by Grigor Dimitrov & Andrey Rublev in the first round in Cincinnati 7-6(5), 7-5.

Jamie Murray with Bruno Soares were defeated by Karen Khachanov & Denis Shapovalov in the second round in Cincinatti 7-6(8), 3-6, 10-3.

Neal Skupski & Wesley Koolhof were defeated by Santiago González & Édouard Roger-Vasselin in the second round in Cincinnati 6-3, 6-4.

Cam Norrie with Alex De Minaur were defeated by Kevin Krawietz & Andreas Mies in the second round in Cincinnati 4-6, 6-3, 11-9.

Jodie Burrage with Maddison Inglis were defeated by Renata Voracova & Julia Wachaczyk in the first round in Vancouver 6-2, 5-7, 10-5.

Emily Webley-Smith with Ingrid Gamarra Martins were defeated by Heather Watson & Rebecca Marino in the first round in Vancouver 6-4, 6-1.

Julian Cash & Henry Patten were defeated by Arthur Rinderknech & Manuel Guinard in the first round in Vancouver 6-4, 7-6.

Heather Watson with Rebecca Marino were defeated by Oksana Kalashniova & Nao Hibino in the quarter-final in Vancouver 6-4, 6-3.

Liam Broady was defeated by Mikael Ymer in the second round in Vancouver 6-3, 4-6, 6-2.

Felix Gill was defeated by Carlos Sanchez Jover in the first round in Koksijde 6-7(3), 6-2, 6-4.

Matilda Mutavdzic was defeated by Vicky Van De Peer in the quarter-final in Duffel 6-1, 6-1.

Oscar Cutting was defeated by Niki Kaliyanda Poonacha in the first round in Monastir 6-1, 5-7, 6-2.

David Stevenson was defeated by Keshav Chopra in the first round in Memphis 7-6(3), 6-4.

Millen Hurrion was defeated by Evan Bynoe in the first round in Memphis 6-4, 6-0.

David Hale with Jared Thompkins were defeated by Abraham Asaba & Shunsuke Mitsui in the first round in Memphis 6-3, 6-1.

David Stevenson with Conor Gannon were defeated by Nikita Snezhko & Jake Trondson in the first round in Memphis 6-3, 4-6, 10-6.

Millen Hurrion with Finn Reynolds defeated Alex Michelsen & Cooper Williams in the final in Memphis 6-0, 6-1.

Anna Brogan was defeated by Nefisa Berberovic in the quarter-final in Ourense 7-6(3), 6-0.

Alisha Reayer with Camila Romero were defeated by Paris Corley & Melany Solange Krywoj in the first round in Cancun 6-2, 6-3.

Next Week Brits play in Winston Salem, New York, Granby, Nonthaburi, Banja Luka, Roehampton, Switzerland, Tunisia, Mexico, Czech Republic, Spain & Holland.