Salisbury and Skupski grind through illness to stay perfect
Under the glare of Turin's indoor lights, Joe Salisbury fights off a nagging bug while Neal Skupski shoulders the load, propelling the British pair to another gritty win that teases semifinal glory at the Nitto ATP Finals.
In the pressurized bubble of the Nitto ATP Finals, where doubles partnerships are forged in fire, Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski delivered a performance laced with resilience, outlasting second seeds Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten in a 7-6(7), 3-6, 10-7 thriller that spanned one hour and 43 minutes. Their second round-robin encounter in the John McEnroe Group showcased the Brits' ability to adapt on the fast indoor hard courts, where every return demands precision and volleys cut through the air like precision tools. This victory not only kept their record spotless at 2-0 but extended Salisbury's personal streak at this event to 12 matches, a run that echoes his consecutive titles alongside Rajeev Ram in 2022-23.
Salisbury's discomfort emerged early, prompting a medical timeout in the first set as an overnight bug drained his usual spark, yet Skupski's steady net play and deep crosscourt serves held the line against the Finns' aggressive inside-out forehands. The duo leaned into their one–two rhythm, with Salisbury's probing returns setting up Skupski's down-the-line passes that exploited Patten's positioning on the slick surface. Even as Heliovaara and Patten clawed back the second set with clever underspin lobs, the Brits' mental edge sharpened in the match tie-break, turning fine margins into a hard-fought edge.
“I wasn’t feeling my best out there, I think I had a bug overnight, but Neal was great,” said Salisbury. “I didn’t have as much energy as normal, but I knew Neal was there to support me. He played great and did most of the work. I’m not sure how we got through that one in the end.”
Battling illness with team resolve
The Pala Alpitour's atmosphere thickened with tension as Salisbury pushed through visible fatigue, his reactions at the net slowing but his focus unwavering, bolstered by Skupski's relentless coverage that forced errors from Heliovaara's backhand side. This match marked their team debut at the season-ending showcase, built on a 2025 campaign of five finals, including deep runs at Roland Garros and the US Open, yielding a 57-26 record that speaks to their tactical evolution across surfaces. Skupski's slice serves disrupted the opponents' rhythm, creating openings for inside-in approaches that kept the crowd's murmurs building toward the decider.
Two From Two
Salisbury & Skupski defeat Heliovaara/Patten in a match tiebreak to remain undefeated #NittoATPFinalspic.twitter.com/bAqaZIyFHp— ATP Tour (@atptour) November 12, 2025
Clutch forehand seals dramatic turn
At 7/7 in the match tie-break, with the score teetering and the Turin crowd holding its breath, Salisbury unleashed a forehand return winner that grazed the line past Patten, igniting three consecutive points to snatch victory and level their head-to-head at 2-2. This pivotal stroke, delivered amid his ailment, captured the psychological shift from vulnerability to dominance, as the Brits' tie-break tenacity—honed through a year's worth of high-stakes clashes—prevailed over the seeds' power game. Skupski later reflected on the intensity, noting how their shared fight had become instinctual under the bright lights.
“It was a very good level throughout, there were fine margins,” Skupski said. “We know as a team that we’ve fought hard all year, and when it comes to tie-breaks, we just fight until the end. We’ve had crucial matches throughout the year and that’s helped us along the way.”
Semifinal hopes ride on rivals' clash
Now perched at 2-0, Salisbury and Skupski can clinch a semifinal berth later on November 12, 2025, if Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic top Christian Harrison and Evan King in their parallel group matchup. This potential shortcut underscores the group's tight math, where endurance meets opportunity in the finals' cauldron, setting up their Friday finale against Harrison and King as a rhythm-builder rather than a must-win. Their unbeaten streak not only revives memories of past glory but positions this fresh partnership to etch a new chapter, blending physical grit with the quiet confidence that defines doubles mastery on the tour's grandest stage.
