Rajeev Ram-Joe Salisbury Continue US Open Victory Run

• Tennis

Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury are leaving an indelible mark on the US Open's rich history. They have been unstoppable, clinching their fourteenth straight victory at this iconic hard-court event. On Saturday, this transatlantic duo further solidified their position as the pair to beat, dispatching Ben McLachlan and Yoshihito Nishioka 6-3, 7-6(4).

The high-pressure environment of a second-set tie-break failed to rattle Ram, an American, and Salisbury, his British counterpart. With poise and precision, they captured another straight-sets victory, setting the stage for a tantalizing third-round showdown against Mackenzie McDonald and Andreas Mies.

Their aspirations don't stop there. Having triumphed at the US Open in both 2021 and 2022, Ram and Salisbury are on the hunt for their fourth major title at Flushing Meadows this year. Beyond personal accolades, a stellar performance here would catapult them up the Pepperstone ATP Live Doubles Teams Rankings.

The reigning champions of last year's Nitto ATP Finals presently sit in the 15th spot, eyeing a remarkable fifth consecutive appearance at the season's climax.

Dodig and Krajicek's Grueling Victory

Meanwhile, second seeds Ivan Dodig and Austin Krajicek encountered more resistance on their path to the third round.

The Croatian-American tandem had a nail-biting contest, squandering three match points in the second set. They eventually overcame the Tsitsipas siblings, Petros and Stefanos, in a grueling 7-5, 6-7(5), 6-4 match. Having tasted Grand Slam glory at Roland Garros earlier this season, Dodig and Krajicek are now gearing up to face the American wild cards, Denis Kudla and Vasil Kirkov.

The latter showcased their mettle by overcoming Matwe Middelkoop and Mate Pavic 6-3, 4-6, 6-4. Day 6 of the competition at Flushing Meadows witnessed some electrifying tennis, particularly from the seventh seeds Edouard Roger-Vasselin and Santiago Gonzalez.

Facing six match points in the second set, they turned the tables on Nicolas Barrientos and Andre Goransson, securing a nail-biting 7-6(5), 6-4 victory. Their resilience was especially noteworthy as they battled from a 2-5 deficit in the second set, ultimately prevailing after a grueling two hours and fifty-three minutes.