Joe Salisbury, Britain's most successful men's doubles player and a six-time Grand Slam champion, has announced his retirement from professional tennis at the age of 34, closing a 12-year career on the ATP circuit that made him a mainstay of the sport's elite doubles ranks. The former world number one confirmed his intention to step away on Wednesday evening in an Instagram post. "Hi everyone… I haven't posted anything for a while but I wanted to share some news," Salisbury wrote. "I've decided I'm retiring from professional tennis. I've been thinking about it for a while and am now very happy with the decision. "Tennis has been my life for as long as I can remember and I have been incredibly fortunate to have had all the opportunities, experiences and success that I have. To be able to travel the world and call playing tennis my job has been a dream come true and I never believed I could have lived the life and had the career that I have. I gave it my all and know I can be proud and look back with no regrets." ## A Career Built on Six Majors Salisbury's Grand Slam ledger spans doubles and mixed doubles: the 2020 Australian Open men's doubles, the 2021 Roland Garros mixed doubles, the 2021 and 2022 US Open men's doubles, the 2021 US Open mixed doubles, and the 2023 US Open men's doubles. Three of those titles came in consecutive years in New York alongside American Rajeev Ram. His final tournament was fitting. At this year's US Open, Salisbury and Ram were aiming to win their fourth US Open men's doubles title in six years, and the pair advanced to the semi-finals before losing to Germany's Tim Putz and Kevin Krawietz. The beginnings were humbler. Salisbury made his ATP Tour debut at the U.S. National Indoor Championships as a 22-year-old, partnering Ireland's David O'Hare — and the duo were beaten in the first round by the legendary brothers Bob and Mike Bryan. ## The Tributes From British Tennis The retirement drew immediate responses from across British tennis. "Joe you are an incredible human being," said Heather Watson, a winner of 12 singles titles on the WTA circuit. "You've had a magnificent tennis career, and you will continue to thrive in life and whatever comes next. I'm so glad I got to share the center court with you at Wimbledon and two Olympics! Team Joe forever." Neal Skupski, another of Great Britain's best-ever doubles players, offered his congratulations: "Congratulations Joe Salisbury. Amazing career! Now unwrap that Scotty Cameron. See you soon mate." Olivia Nicholls, the world number 27 in women's doubles, added: "Congrats Joe! Amazing career and so much to look forward to on the other side." ## An Inspiration for the Generation Behind Him The most telling tribute came from Julian Cash, who won the 2025 Wimbledon men's doubles title alongside Lloyd Glasspool and who credited Salisbury with shaping his own path. "Congrats mate! A huge part of why I began my doubles career, as you know," the former world number one said. "Thanks for everything you've done for the sport, it's been an honor to share the court with you these past few years." ## What His Leaving Means for British Doubles Salisbury's departure closes an era in which British men's doubles became a global force rather than an afterthought. Alongside Skupski and Cash, he formed part of a generation that put British players at the top of the doubles rankings and deep into the second weeks of majors — a transformation whose scale is best measured by his own tally: six Grand Slam titles at a time when British men had historically claimed such trophies only in single digits across entire decades. The partnership with Ram deserves particular note in that history. Formed after Salisbury's earlier breakthrough years, it produced major titles in 2021, 2022 and 2023 and carried the pair to the US Open semi-finals this month, in what became his final professional tournament. Few players exit on a run that deep into the last four of a Grand Slam; fewer still do so having already secured their place among their country's all-time greats. The timing also reflects the state of the tour he leaves behind. At 34, with a semifinal finish at this year's US Open, Salisbury departs while still competing at the sport's highest level rather than fading out of the draw — a choice his statement framed not as a defeat but as contentment: thinking about it for a while, and now being very happy with the decision. That legacy — six majors, a stint at world number one, and three straight US Open crowns — stands as the benchmark for every British doubles player who follows. Salisbury leaves the tour the way he played it: with a semi-final run at the game's biggest stage, and with the sport's leading figures lining up to say the same thing — an amazing career, played with everything he had.