Can Salisbury/Skupski Maintain Their Perfect Record at the ATP Finals?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Victory Against Top Seeds: Salisbury and Skupski defeated the second-seeded team.
- Strong Teamwork: Their collaboration has been crucial for their success.
- Upcoming Matches: They are close to securing a spot in the semifinals.
- Impressive Season: The pair reached five finals this year.
- Resilience: Their ability to fight through challenges has been a key factor.
Turin (Italy), Nov 12 (NationPress) Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski have once again showcased their determination at the ATP Finals on Wednesday, clinching another impressive victory that places them on the verge of semifinal qualification in the men's doubles category. The British pair delivered an outstanding performance, overcoming the second-seeded team of Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten with a score of 7-6(7), 3-6, 10-7 after a gripping one hour and 43 minutes in their second round-robin match. Despite requiring a medical timeout during the first set, Salisbury, with the strong backing of Skupski, demonstrated quick reflexes in the crucial moments of the Match Tie-break, extending his winning streak at this prestigious season finale to 12 matches, following consecutive titles with Rajeev Ram in 2022-23.
The victory propelled Salisbury and Skupski to a 2-0 record in the John McEnroe Group. They stand a chance to qualify for the semifinals later on Wednesday, pending a win by Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic against Christian Harrison and Evan King.
A pivotal moment occurred at 7/7 in the Match Tie-break when Salisbury executed a forehand return winner that grazed the outer edge of the line, propelling them to three consecutive points that secured the match and evened their Lexus ATP Head2Head series with Heliovaara/Patten at 2-2.
“It was a very good level throughout, there were fine margins,” Skupski remarked, as reported by the ATP Tour. “As a team, we know we’ve battled hard all year, and in tie-breaks, we just fight until the end. Our experiences in crucial matches this year have aided us tremendously.”
This marks Salisbury and Skupski's debut as a team at the ATP Finals following a remarkable 2025 season, where they reached five finals, including at Roland Garros and the US Open. Their year-to-date record stands at 57-26, per the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index, and they are set to face Harrison and King in their final group-stage encounter on Friday.