Liverpool’s Neal Skupski has ended 2022 as the number one doubles tennis player in the world.

Finishing the year in defeat to fellow Brit Joe Salisbury and partner Rajeev Ram in the ATP Finals semi-finals, the 32-year-old still managed to finish over 400 points above the next best.

In a year which saw Skupski win Wimbledon with mixed doubles partner Desirae Krawczyk for the second year in a row, Skupski won eight titles in total, seven with men’s doubles partner Wesley Koolhof who finished joint first in the rankings.

The beginning of the year was the sign of things to come for Skupski who claimed victory in Melbourne at the opening tournament of the season. Backing that up with the trophy in Adelaide the following week, Skupski and Koolhof went on to reach the Australian Open quarters, which was their best Grand Slam result to date. The pair also reached the French Open quarters, US Open final and the Wimbledon fourth round.

Speaking after Wimbledon, Skupski, who only got the call to play from mixed Wimbledon partner Krawczyk days before the tournament, said: “We will have to go for three next year, if she (Krawcyzk) will play with me.”

 

So close to winning his maiden men’s doubles Grand Slam at Flushing Meadows in New York, Salisbury and Ram beat him and Koolhof in the final at the US Open and then the Semi Finals of the Nitto ATP Finals.

The Nitto ATP Finals is an end of year tournament which sees the top eight ranked doubles and singles (won by Novak Djokovic) players compete in a round robin and knockout tournament. Seen by many as the biggest title to win outside of the four Grand Slams, Skupski would have been confident in his chances at ending the year in victory. Ultimately it was not to be, losing 7-6 6-4 in the semis.

Many in tennis see titles as bigger prizes than ranking, so 2023 will see the Liverpool tennis ace compete for a men’s Grand Slam title to go alongside his number one ranking.

Skupski and Koolhof will begin their quest in Australia in January.

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