Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares lose to Joe Salisbury and Rajeev Ram in closely fought Australian Open semi-final

Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares’ bid to repeat their 2016 triumph at the Australian Open came unstuck at the semi-final stage as they lost to Joe Salisbury and Rajeev Ram.
Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares lost in the semi-finals against Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury. Picture: Mackenzie Sweetnam/Getty ImagesJamie Murray and Bruno Soares lost in the semi-finals against Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury. Picture: Mackenzie Sweetnam/Getty Images
Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares lost in the semi-finals against Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury. Picture: Mackenzie Sweetnam/Getty Images

Murray and Soares reunited at the start of the season but it was defending champions Salisbury and Ram who came out on top of a tight contest, winning 6-4, 7-6 (2).

It is rare for British players to find themselves on opposing sides of the net at the latter stages of grand slams and Englishman Salisbury and his American partner secured the bragging rights over their Scottish-Brazilian opponents.

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“Obviously we really wanted to win,” said Salisbury. “It was the semi-final of a grand slam, so you’re going to want to win just as much whoever you’re playing against.”

Rajeev Ram of the United States and Joe Salisbury of Britain are aiming to retain the men's doubles title at the Australian Open. Picture: Mackenzie Sweetnam/Getty ImagesRajeev Ram of the United States and Joe Salisbury of Britain are aiming to retain the men's doubles title at the Australian Open. Picture: Mackenzie Sweetnam/Getty Images
Rajeev Ram of the United States and Joe Salisbury of Britain are aiming to retain the men's doubles title at the Australian Open. Picture: Mackenzie Sweetnam/Getty Images

Salisbury and Ram will play ninth seeds Ivan Dodig of Croatia and Filip Polasek of Slovakia in Sunday’s final bidding to make it 12 straight wins at Melbourne Park.

Salisbury said: “It was a tough one. Very tight match throughout. We got off to a bad start, were broken, 3-0 down. I think we were a bit frustrated about that, and I think it was good that we got back on serve straight away.

“Then, we played really well the rest of that set. I’m sure they were pretty frustrated that they let that lead go. But then we felt good. Then the second set was really tight. I think we both weren’t serving as well as we can. I felt like they were a little bit on top in the second set.

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“But we knew if we got it to a tie-break we’d have a great chance. We managed to get through that in two sets.”

At 28, Londoner Salisbury is a relative youngster in the world of doubles and he sees no reason why he cannot go on to win many more major titles.

He said: “I knew it was possible but maybe didn’t think it would be so early on in my doubles career. I definitely think after last year when we won I knew that I could win lots of grand slams and that’s the goal.”

Salisbury and Ram’s achievement is all the more impressive considering they did not practise together between November’s ATP Finals and a week before the Australian Open after the American was confined to his hotel room for a fortnight as one of the players in hard quarantine.

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Salisbury is thankful it was not the other way around, saying: “It was tough for him, obviously not ideal being 14 days without being able to practice or get out of the room at all, physically and mentally tough.

“I think he dealt with it pretty well. Of all the people for it to happen to, he’s not a bad person. It was better it was that way around and not me in the 14 days and him out. I think I would have struggled a lot more.”

Ram is also through to the mixed doubles final but Salisbury missed out on facing his partner for another trophy as he and American Desirae Krawczyk lost out 7-5, 5-7, 10-8 to Australian duo Matt Ebden and Sam Stosur.

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