Rajeev Ram Calls for Greater ATP Support for Doubles Tennis

Rajeev Ram Raises Concerns Over Doubles’ Future

Former doubles World No. 1 Rajeev Ram has called on the ATP to do more to promote doubles, arguing that the format has stories, personalities and a team element that remain underused.

Ram made the comments after being felicitated by the Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association (KSLTA) in Bengaluru, shortly after ending his professional career at the 2026 US Open. The 42-year-old American, whose father Raghav is from Bengaluru, retired after nearly 25 years on tour.

His remarks come at a time when proposed changes to the ATP doubles structure have triggered concern among players. Plans being discussed for 2028 include smaller doubles fields and a reduction in the share of tournament prize money allocated to doubles.

Rajeev Ram Wants ATP to Promote Doubles

Ram believes the ATP should look at ways of making doubles more visible rather than primarily focusing on reducing its size.

The former World No. 1 pointed to the basic appeal of doubles: players competing as teams, developing partnerships and creating sporting stories that can connect with fans.

His own career is a strong example of what a successful doubles pathway can produce. Ram won six Grand Slam titles in doubles and 32 ATP men’s doubles titles, spending nine weeks at No. 1 in the ATP doubles rankings.

Prize Money and Smaller Draws Raise Questions

The debate surrounding doubles intensified after players were informed about proposed changes from 2028.

According to reporting on the proposals, ATP events could see doubles draws reduced substantially, while the share of prize money allocated to doubles could fall from 20% to 10%. At some Masters events, the proposed doubles draw would be 16 teams, while ATP 500 and ATP 250 events could have eight-team draws.

The ATP has said it is assessing the doubles product, draw sizes and player compensation with the aim of developing a more sustainable long-term model. The organisation has also linked the proposed changes to the broader distribution of prize money across professional tennis.

Ram’s argument is that the sport should explore ways to increase the audience for doubles rather than reduce opportunities for players.

US Open Mixed Doubles Experiment Gets Mixed Reaction

Ram also discussed the US Open’s revamped mixed doubles event, which brought leading singles players together for a high-profile competition before the main singles tournament.

He appreciated the innovation and believed it helped put mixed doubles in the spotlight. However, he also questioned the decision to largely exclude established specialist doubles players.For Ram, the attraction of Grand Slam doubles has always been connected to the feeling that players are competing against the best available opposition.

The 2026 US Open experiment featured major singles names and was designed to create greater attention around mixed doubles, but it also reignited the discussion about the place of specialist doubles players within the sport.

Ram’s Career Shows the Value of Doubles

Ram’s own achievements underline the role doubles played throughout his career.

He won his first Grand Slam men’s doubles title at the 2020 Australian Open with Joe Salisbury. The pair then produced one of the most successful partnerships of the modern era, winning the US Open men’s doubles title three consecutive times from 2021 to 2023. They became the first men’s doubles team in the Open Era to win three straight US Open titles.

Ram also won the Australian Open mixed doubles title twice and collected Olympic silver medals in mixed doubles at Rio 2016 and men’s doubles at Paris 2024.

His final professional tournament came at the 2026 US Open, where he and Salisbury reached the men’s doubles semifinals. Ram’s final appearance also extended his record to 26 consecutive US Open men’s doubles appearances.

Rajeev Ram Leaves Tennis With a Message

Ram’s retirement has closed an important chapter in his career, but his comments in Bengaluru have opened a wider conversation about where doubles tennis goes next.The challenge for the sport is balancing commercial growth, television appeal, player opportunities and the financial realities of running tournaments.

His message comes from someone who experienced both sides of professional tennis. After spending years competing in singles before becoming one of the world’s leading doubles players, Ram believes the discipline should have greater visibility and stronger support as tennis plans its next phase.