WHAT HAPPENED: Two years, two finals, two championship trophies. No. 1 seeds and 2021 US Open men’s doubles champions Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury defeated No. 2 seeds Wesley Koolhof and Neal Skupski, 7-6(4), 7-5, to capture the men’s doubles championship and successfully defend their title.

“To come through here and get the win, and to come back [after] some tough situations in some matches [this year] makes it extra special,” Salisbury said after the victory, noting that the pair held match points in contests they eventually lost at both the French Open and Wimbledon this year. “I think we are a bit shocked that we have been able to win this twice in a row, and especially to back up what we did last year.”

The match marked the first time that the No. 1 and No. 2 men’s doubles teams faced off against each other in a final at the US Open since 2005. As evidenced by their seedings, little separated the pairs coming into the battle. The duos had split their two previous meetings, though Koolhof and Skupski only won their Dubai encounter when Salisbury was forced to retire after the first set. Ram and Salisbury held the slight advantage in experience, as the pair was contesting their fourth Grand Slam men’s doubles final, in hopes of hoisting their third overall major championship trophy. Conversely, Koolhof and Skupski were looking to lift their first. Still, the newer team undeniably enjoyed the more successful season to date, reaching nine finals together and capturing six titles