Rajeev Ram concluded his illustrious tennis career at the US Open, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most accomplished Indian American players in history.
Rajeev Ram officially retired from professional tennis at the US Open on Thursday, marking the end of a remarkable 26-year journey with the tournament. This farewell capped a career that solidified his status as one of the most successful Indian American players in the history of American tennis.
In the men’s doubles semifinals, Ram and his longtime partner Joe Salisbury faced off against Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz, ultimately losing 6-3, 6-4. Despite the defeat, the event was followed by an emotional farewell ceremony attended by Ram’s family, friends, childhood coach, and former colleagues. “Honestly, it couldn’t have been better,” Ram told USOpen.org after the ceremony.
The 42-year-old entered the 2026 US Open with a record that showcased his extraordinary longevity in the sport. He made 26 consecutive appearances in the men’s doubles at the US Open, the most in the tournament’s history. Alongside Salisbury, he became the only men’s doubles team to win three consecutive US Open titles from 2021 to 2023.
For Ram, the significance of his final appearance extended beyond the trophies. It was a moment that brought together many of the people and places that shaped his career, which began in the American Midwest and took him to the pinnacle of international tennis.
Born in Denver, Colorado, to Indian immigrants Raghav and Sushma Ram, Ram’s family eventually settled in Carmel, Indiana. It was here that he developed into one of the country’s leading junior tennis players. He attended Carmel High School, where he won the Indiana boys singles state championship as a sophomore in 2000 and captured nine national junior titles before transitioning to college tennis.
His upbringing in Indiana played a crucial role in his identity as a player. Rather than emerging from one of the country’s traditional tennis academies, Ram honed his skills in Carmel under the guidance of longtime coach Bryan Smith, who began working with him at the age of 14. The USTA has previously highlighted Ram as a key figure in its Asian American tennis community, acknowledging his Indian heritage and accomplishments at the University of Illinois.
Ram’s college career at the University of Illinois was brief yet extraordinary. He enrolled in January 2003 and helped the Fighting Illini achieve a perfect 32-0 season, winning the program’s first NCAA team championship. He also claimed the NCAA men’s doubles title with partner Brian Wilson, earning accolades such as Big Ten Freshman of the Year and All-American honors in both singles and doubles.
Ultimately, Ram chose to leave college to pursue a career in professional tennis. Years later, he still regards his Illinois championship as a defining moment in his career. In an interview with the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, he stated that winning the NCAA team title was his favorite tennis memory because it represented being part of something larger than individual achievement.
Initially, Ram focused on singles on the professional tour, reaching a career-high singles ranking of No. 56 in April 2016 and winning two ATP singles titles at the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships in Newport, Rhode Island, in 2009 and 2015. However, his greatest successes came after he shifted his focus to doubles.
Ram captured his first Grand Slam title in mixed doubles at the 2019 Australian Open with Barbora Krejcikova. He followed this victory with the 2020 Australian Open men’s doubles title alongside Salisbury and another mixed doubles championship with Krejcikova in 2021. Together with Salisbury, Ram established one of the most successful men’s doubles partnerships of the era, winning three consecutive US Open men’s doubles championships from 2021 to 2023, as well as the ATP Finals in 2022 and 2023. He achieved the No. 1 doubles ranking in 2022.
Over the course of his career, Ram amassed six Grand Slam titles, including four in men’s doubles and two in mixed doubles, along with 32 ATP doubles titles and six Masters 1000 titles.
Ram’s legacy extends beyond the Grand Slam circuit. He represented the United States in three Olympic Games, earning two silver medals. At the 2016 Rio Olympics, he partnered with Venus Williams in mixed doubles to reach the final. Eight years later, at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Ram and Austin Krajicek secured silver in men’s doubles. Team USA recognizes Ram as a three-time Olympian and two-time Olympic medalist.
In addition to his competitive achievements, Ram has emphasized the importance of making tennis accessible to young people. In 2014, he established the Rajeev Ram Foundation, focusing on introducing youth to tennis and supporting opportunities for junior players. This commitment is rooted in his own experiences growing up in Indiana. Ram has expressed a desire to give back to the community that supported him and to help keep tennis relevant in the Indianapolis area.
As he reflects on his career, Ram hopes to inspire the next generation. “I don’t think you have to play the game as your job to get the most out of it,” he said. He aims to introduce tennis to individuals who might otherwise never encounter the sport.
Ram’s retirement marks the conclusion of a career that spanned generations of American tennis. He began playing at the US Open as a junior, competed alongside some of the game’s biggest names, became an NCAA champion, reached No. 1 in the world in doubles, won six Grand Slam titles, earned two Olympic silver medals, and contributed to the United States in Davis Cup competition.
His legacy is deeply rooted in the communities that shaped him: an Indian immigrant family, Carmel, Indiana, the University of Illinois, and the American tennis system that launched his career. His final appearance at the US Open was a fitting conclusion, as he walked onto the same tournament grounds where he had competed for more than two decades, alongside Salisbury, his longtime partner.
While the result was a semifinal defeat, the occasion became a celebration of longevity, achievement, and an American tennis career that began with an Indian American family in Colorado and Indiana. “I would just hope that the 10-year-old kid would know how much I enjoyed the whole ride,” Ram reflected on what he would tell his younger self.
According to Source Name, Ram’s journey serves as an inspiration to aspiring athletes, showcasing the power of dedication and the importance of community support.