In Joe Salisbury Britain has a No 1 doubles player but despite its popularity at club level, it still struggles for elite recognition
For the first time since he earned the distinction, the No 1 men’s tennis player in the world returned to home soil at Queen’s Club to compete not too far from where he grew up. Joe Salisbury has won four grand slam titles overall and has occupied the top ranking for 12 weeks and counting. As the second youngest person inside the top 25, at 30 years old he is only just beginning.
But all those milestones were achieved in doubles, so instead of being scheduled on the Centre Court for a big homecoming, he occupied the much smaller second court where he and his partner, Rajeev Ram, lost quietly in their second match. In recent years, Great Britain has become one of the most successful men’s doubles nations in the world, with four players in the top 40. If this country struggles to provide a platform on the biggest stages for doubles, there are few other places that can.