Doubles Only Tennis Podcast

Joe Salisbury Interview: Athleticism, Team Chemistry, College Tennis, & Mixed Doubles

• Will Boucek • Episode 252

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0:00 | 23:06

Three-time US Open Champion Joe Salisbury joined me before the start of this year's tournament to discuss his athleticism, doubles partnership with Neal Skupski, college tennis experience, and more.

Tomorrow, Joe and Neal play in the US Open Final on ESPN. Here's what we discussed before the tournament.

  • Attributes his exceptional athleticism to his parents and playing multiple sports growing up
  • Credits natural instincts and mobility work for his remarkable court speed and movement
  • Explains how he and Neal Skupski overcame early challenges through patience and communication
  • Emphasizes college tennis at Memphis as crucial for his development as both a person and a player
  • College tennis as a viable pathway, especially for doubles
  • His different mindset approach to mixed doubles versus men's doubles
  • Shares a thoughtful perspective on the US Open mixed doubles format
  • Focuses on winning major tournaments rather than specific ranking goals for 2025

Joe is one of the ATP tour's most dynamic and entertaining players. Watch him tomorrow as he goes for his fourth US Open title and follow him throughout the rest of 2025.

Learn more about Joe & follow:

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Joe Salisbury's athletic background and journey

Speaker 1

You're about to hear another interview from the US Open in New York, this time with Joe Salisbury, who has not been on the podcast for a while. We chatted in New York before the tournament started. At the time of this intro recording he is still in the tournament. He has his round of 16 match alongside Neil Skubbski later today. We discussed his athleticism where it came from. We talked about lessons he's learned from his coach, dave O'Hare, who has been on the podcast before. We talked about college tennis, his partnership with Neil, what it was like to start the year with a new partner after having played with Rishi Varam for so long. We also talked about mixed doubles. He's had a lot of success there, including multiple Grand Slam titles. And then we talked about goals for 2025 and if he and Neil are going to continue to partner together or not. So this is a pretty short conversation, but a good one that I know a lot of you want to listen to, because Joe is one of the most requested guests I've had over the last few years. So it was good to chat with him and get him on the show, and hopefully we can do it again in the future. But for now, enjoy this conversation from the 2025 US Open with Joe Salisbury.

Speaker 1

Everyone, welcome to the show. Today we have Joe Salisbury on. Joe welcome, thanks. Thanks for having me. So we're here in New York. We're again. Just like my last interview, we're in the media center, which is kind of a quiet place, so we're talking a little bit quieter than normal. But I wanted to start with a simple question for you. I haven't had you on the podcast before, or maybe we did like a post-match interview or something like that. Um, where did your athleticism come from?

Speaker 2

good question. I guess I'd have to thank my parents for that. Um, yeah, they're both pretty good, pretty good athletes, pretty good sports people, and they both played tennis. My dad was also a good, well all-round athlete. He played a lot of good field hockey player, which you have to be pretty, pretty fit and athletic for. Um, but yeah, I suppose it's just. Uh, I got lucky in the in the gene pool.

Speaker 1

Did you play a lot of sports growing up, or did you focus just on tennis?

Speaker 2

I played a lot growing up. Yeah, I played well, everything really. I played at school. I played football or, I guess, soccer for you guys. I played rugby, cricket, I played squash, golf, yeah, I mean until I was sort of 13, 14 I think, and then, and then didn't really have time for for all the others, um, and golf's the only only one now that I still play yeah, yeah, it seems like a lot of the best athletes played multiple sports growing up and it helps with a little bit of different styles of athleticism than just tennis, you know.

Athleticism and on-court movement techniques

Speaker 2

Yeah I think it definitely helps. I think, yeah, like you said, a lot of people played a lot of different sports when they're younger and that helps develop different athletic skills, whether it's to do with your athleticism or your coordination, or just skills with different types of bats and balls and rackets and balls. So, yeah, I think it definitely does help to develop all those skills when you're younger and not just kind of know how to hit a tennis ball, not not do anything else do you have any secrets or tips for staying kind of mobile and also speed on the court?

Speaker 1

you're one of the fastest players probably on the doubles tour. Any tips for that?

Speaker 2

um, I mean, like I said, I think I got kind of lucky with with that in terms of a lot of the athleticism that that I have is kind of natural, I suppose, um, without sounding too uh, arrogant but give your parents the credit, yeah exactly I give them the credit.

Speaker 2

I mean, yeah, I I do do a little bit of, um, movement work on the court, but that's more to do with, I suppose, the movement patterns, with like, uh, how I move at the net and how I move on on returns, um, which I suppose does help with the speed. But I guess a lot of the things that people would see that they think are kind of very athletic or, um, agile or with a lot of, I guess that's kind of more instinctive and kind of reacting on the court and then just trying to get to the ball as quickly as possible. But, yeah, I mean, I do a lot of kind of mobility work off the court and when I'm warming up to play. And, yeah, recently I've been working with a chiropractor, which has helped me feel a lot better on court. I had some issues with my back for a few years which definitely, yeah, made it more difficult to move freely and athletically as I would have liked, but yeah, that's definitely helped a lot and now I'm feeling like I can move how I'd like to.

Speaker 1

Does Dave ever tell you to chill out when you're trying to chase a ball into the second row?

Speaker 2

No, I don't think he's ever told me to. I think all Dave and my other coaches, they all like when they see that that means that I'm kind of really switched on and kind of firing on all cylinders. I think that's when I play my best is when I'm anywhere and everywhere on the court I think we sometimes use the word being rampant when I feel like I'm, yeah, just moving, moving at my best, and feel like I'm can get to anything and moving everywhere on the court and really, um, yeah, trying to use, use the athleticism as as a strength, and I think that definitely helps me with not only to chase down tough shots but also to be be at my best with hitting my shots, whether that's serve, return volleys, ground strokes, to really be as physical as possible with. That definitely is when I'm playing my best.

Speaker 1

What's been clicking so well the past several months with Neil. You both had probably what you would say maybe a slower start to the season and then around April May, things really ramped up and you've made several finals and had a lot of a lot of successes then.

Speaker 2

Yeah, to be honest, I couldn't pinpoint one particular thing or any particular things.

Speaker 2

I think it just takes a little bit of time sometimes when you're playing with a new partner.

Speaker 2

I mean, we played together before in some Davis Cup matches and in a few random tournaments, but I think it's different when you're together as a team.

Speaker 2

Um, I think maybe the expectation when we first came together was quite high and I think once we had a bad start, I think we maybe reflected on that too much or took it a bit too, maybe worried about it too much, and rather than just letting things take its course and I think that's what's happened over the last few months is that we've just trusted that things would come together and that we kept working on our own things individually and kept working together as a team. I think we've become better at understanding each other on court and become better partners, at supporting each other and being kind of the best version of ourselves around each other on court and then, just yeah, kept trusting that the results would come if we keep doing the right things, and then I think, once they do, then it becomes easier to keep going. I think once you get a few wins, have some good results. It definitely gives you some confidence and then makes it easier to carry on with that.

Speaker 1

Do you think it was more difficult I don't know if that's the right phrase, but a bit more difficult to make that transition, since you had the same partner for so long and hadn't switched partners a lot yeah, I think.

Speaker 2

So that's definitely not something I was used to. I mean, obviously, playing with the g for the six years. I mean you get, yeah, obviously I got used to playing with him and I think, in some ways, neil and majeeva quite similar, but it's obviously it's still a bit of a bit of a change and gets you takes a bit of getting used to in terms of how you're practicing on court together and how you're interacting during matches. So I think, for sure, yeah, people who switch around more often are probably more used to that and maybe find it a bit easier. Um, and I think for me, having that connection on court and being able to understand one another and be able to communicate well and kind of know why your partner is doing doing certain things whether it's positive things or or not so good things um just being, yeah, understanding them better, I think, is it's an important thing for me to to feel comfortable on court. So I think that definitely takes a bit of time you played college tennis at memphis.

Speaker 1

How do you feel like college tennis helped you? And then, do you have any advice for current college players who are considering going pro?

Speaker 2

yeah, I think, I think for me I mean partly, college tennis helped me just as a arsenal. It helped me to grow up and see the, see the real world and, um, yeah, develop myself as a person. Um, I think first and foremost, I had an amazing coach, paul paul gobel, and um, he was kind of somebody that always kind of tried to coach and develop the the person first and the tennis player second and that, um, that was something that I really really appreciated and um was really helpful for me. But I think also, yeah, well, before I went to college, I definitely wasn't ready to play professionally.

Speaker 2

So I think just having those years at college of developing myself and my game and myself especially physically, I was quite small, um, when I was younger, or even when I grew up, I was very, very skinny and, yeah, needed to develop myself physically and so definitely helped with that as well. And then just the, the amount of competitive matches you get and just learning to to compete well and, yeah, it was just a really enjoyable time as well to to be around, around good friends and teammates and play as a team is something that I really really enjoyed, and obviously you don't get to do that too much on the main tour. But yeah, I think for anyone deciding whether or not to do it, I think I would definitely always encourage people to do that, unless they're making big strides on the professional tour when they're 18. I think it's definitely a good option to take.

Speaker 1

Yeah, it seems like more players are choosing the college path just because the resources you get and now they can even pay players a bit, I believe. So it's definitely changed a lot. What about the college path as kind of a doubles pathway? We're seeing a lot. Uh, what about the college path? Is it kind of a doubles pathway? We're seeing a lot of doubles players.

Speaker 2

Uh, have success after playing in college yeah, I think, um, obviously, you play a lot of doubles in college and people develop those skills well, um, but I think also, yeah, I think most people, when after they finish college, they're playing well, a lot of people go straight into the doubles.

Speaker 2

Some people play singles and doubles, um, but yeah, it's, it's tough to, it's tough to make it on the singles tour, um, and I think a lot of people, yeah, either their skills don't don't suit that, they're not fit enough physically to to deal with that. Obviously the singles is is tougher physically and on the body and people just see the the doubles is a good, good option to go down and to develop their game and, yeah, see if they can see if they can make it in the doubles world. And, yeah, I think that's just an option that a lot of people can take. I mean, yeah, I'd say overall, it is easier to become a top player as a doubles player. Um, I don't want to put put down the doubles game, but I think it's definitely an option people take um because they think they're more suited to it. Or sometimes, if they, yeah, they have a go at becoming a top singles player, but they don't, but they don't make it yeah, well, it makes sense.

Speaker 1

I mean, with the prize money difference, it's like you know where the money goes, that's where the top, top, top players are going to go, you know. So, um, it kind of makes sense, but it's also, just as we've said, like a very different skill set right like yeah, if you have those doubles volleys out of college, it's just going to make sense.

Speaker 1

You're going to naturally do better. We've seen players um robert cash and jj tracy have done well this year and they were just in college a year ago. A lot more players have, seems like, made that transition, um. So a couple more questions here. Uh, I want to transition to mixed doubles. You've had a lot of success in mixed, made the wimbledon final this year with louise stefani, have some grand slams with Dez. How does your mindset change for mixed? And then talk about tactically what changes as well.

Speaker 2

I think, mindset-wise, I mean, I definitely feel a bit more relaxed. Playing the mixed, I think for a lot of people it's obviously they want to do well and they want to win, but they don't take it as seriously as the, the men's or women's doubles, um, I guess in a way it's a little bit like when the singles players are playing doubles. It's kind of a bit of a extra event for them and they kind of a bit more relaxed and they try to do well. But if they don't, then it's not not the end of the world and they kind of just want to develop the game and practice some things and obviously, if they do well, then then great. Um, and also I think, yeah, it's only at the grand slams and you're often playing with a partner that you haven't played with too much before or practice with at all. So you're kind of more relaxed and wanting to enjoy it and and, yeah, have fun and and, yeah, it's just a bit of a different, yeah, feeling on court.

Speaker 2

Um, but tactics, you practically wise, I mean, it doesn't change massively for me. I suppose it depends a little bit who you're playing with, but, um, yeah, most recently for me at wimbledon, I mean playing with Louisa. She has amazing skills at the net, amazing volley. She's a great athlete as well. Actually, in some ways she plays a little bit similarly to how I do. So I think in some ways, yeah, sometimes in the mix you're looking to kind to take over the net a little bit more and cover more of the court, trying to take the smashes and sometimes doing your thing a bit more at the net and letting your partner Often the girls will stay back. But with Luisa she was serving the volleying and often they'd be putting up lobs and I'd be calling me and she'd be calling me off it. By the end I was kind of letting her take everything out of the air. But yeah, for me tactically it doesn't change too much.

Speaker 1

Yeah, she's one of the few WTA doubles players who does serving volley on a consistent basis, so it's definitely different. Um, did you watch the us open mixed? I watched some of it. You did, yeah, what did you think of it and what changes would you make for next year?

Speaker 2

I think, yeah, in a lot of ways I think it's a great event. Um, obviously they had great crowds and I think getting the top singles players to play the doubles I think does help promote the doubles game. Um, I think maybe how they did it is not. Yeah, obviously, for the doubles players it wasn't good that we couldn't get in the draw. There was only one one proper doubles team that actually was in the draw and happened to win it. So, yeah, to be honest, obviously, if you have the normal mixed doubles event during the two-week tournament, then you're not going to get the top singles players to play it. So, yeah, I don't have any amazing ideas how you would make it more of a legitimate event, because I think a lot. How you would make it more of a legitimate event because I think a lot of people felt it was more of just an exhibition event. Having just the two days and the first to four games in the sets and obviously not having any of the doubles players in the draw kind of makes it seem a bit ridiculous calling it a grand slam but then you can't have which obviously I think, a lot of the higher-ups in the USTA and a lot of singles players kind of thought, well, they did have the best players in the draw, but you ended up having the one doubles team win the tournament. So that clearly wasn't the case. Whether that's obviously those players are more attractive and they do bring in more, more fans. But you can't really have a proper, uh, grand slam event and not allow the the top top players to be in it. Um, so how they would do that, I don't know whether they may still keep it in the first week, um, but they allow maybe half and half, so there's half doubles teams get in half singles teams.

Speaker 2

Um, I think that would be quite a good way to do it. If they still want the top players to play, maybe they. Yeah, I guess if they extend the event event any longer, then they're probably not getting. There's probably a lot of singles players that wouldn't want to play. So that's the. That's the tricky thing about it. But yeah, I think I'm not quite as negative about it as a lot of the doubles players are. But obviously the fact that none of them could play except one team is a bit ridiculous. But yeah, I'm not sure the best way to do it going, going forward did you enter no?

Goals for 2025 and future plans

Speaker 2

no, uh. So last question goals for the rest of 2025 and mean I don't really set specific goals, um, but for me it's it's always the same thing as to win win the biggest tournaments. Um, so I want to win win more brand slams, uh, win more masters events and yeah, I think one's definitely to make it to the tour finals at the end of the year. Um, but yeah, for me it's just to to win win the biggest tournaments. I don't really focus too much on, um, the rankings or any tournaments in particular. Obviously, I want to try and peak and plan around around the biggest events, but, um, yeah, I don't, I don't have any specific kind of ranking goals. It's always just to to win as many big tournaments as possible and then for 2026.

Speaker 1

Are you planning to play with neil, or haven't even thought about that yet?

Speaker 2

um, yeah, I haven't thought about that yet, Kind of assumed that I would. I haven't spoken to him about it, but yeah, for me that would make sense and yeah, it's been going well. So I would like to continue with him.

Speaker 1

Awesome, all right, thanks, joe, for coming on. I really appreciate the time, no worries.