A Career Built on Consistency and Excellence
Rajeev Ram has officially retired from professional tennis at age 42, closing the book on a remarkable doubles career that spanned more than two decades. The American made his final competitive appearance at the 2026 US Open alongside British partner Joe Salisbury, where the pair fell in the semifinals to the German duo of Tim Putz and Kevin Krawietz. Following that loss at Flushing Meadows, Ram confirmed his retirement through a heartfelt message posted to social media.
Over the course of his career, Ram collected four Grand Slam doubles titles, including three US Open crowns, achievements that helped him climb to the top of the ATP doubles rankings in 2022. He also added two mixed doubles Grand Slam titles at the Australian Open, winning in 2019 and 2021 alongside Barbora Krejcikova. Beyond the major titles, Ram earned two Olympic silver medals, first in Rio and then in Paris, competing alongside Venus Williams and Austin Krajicek respectively.
An Emotional Goodbye Filled with Gratitude
In his retirement message, Ram reflected on what drove him throughout his career, noting that his purpose was simply to be better each day than he was the day before. He also used the moment to address fans from South Asian backgrounds, encouraging them to pursue their own dreams without feeling limited by expectation or tradition.
Venus Williams spoke warmly about their Paris partnership, describing the emotional weight of competing together and finding unexpected chemistry as a pair. Ram also paid tribute to his late father in a moving closing passage that resonated widely among fans and fellow players. TennisDraw users following the doubles draw at Flushing Meadows had Ram and Salisbury among the more popular semifinal picks heading into the tournament.
