CINCINNATI (Diya TV) — American tennis star Rajeev Ram added another chapter to his storied career Sunday, winning the men’s doubles title at the 2025 Cincinnati Open with partner Nikola Mektic. The veteran duo rallied to defeat Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego and Lorenzo Musetti 4-6, 6-3, 10-5 in the final, clinching their first ATP Masters 1000 crown as a team.
Entrepreneur and politician Vivek Ramaswamy was among the first to congratulate Ram. Ramaswamy, who founded Roivant Sciences in 2014 and later entered politics, praised Ram’s resilience and long-lasting success.
“Congrats to my friend Rajeev Ram on winning the men’s doubles ATP title in Cincinnati this year, incredibly at age 41,” Ramaswamy wrote. “He was the top junior in the Midwest back when I competed in the same tournaments. He’s gone on to win 6 Grand Slams and a silver medal for Team USA at the Olympics. Proud of you, man!”
Born in 1984 in Colorado, Ram has become one of the most accomplished doubles players of his generation. After starring at the University of Illinois in 2003 and helping secure an NCAA championship, he turned professional in 2004.
Ram’s singles career included two titles at Newport in 2009 and 2015, as well as a career-high world ranking of No. 56 in 2016. But his biggest achievements have come in doubles since shifting his focus in 2017.
He has won six Grand Slam titles, including three consecutive US Open men’s doubles championships from 2021 to 2023 with Joe Salisbury. He also claimed the 2020 Australian Open men’s doubles title and two Australian Open mixed doubles crowns with Barbora Krejcikova in 2019 and 2021.
Ram became world No. 1 in doubles in October 2022 and has won the ATP Finals twice, in 2022 and 2023. On the Olympic stage, he earned silver medals at Rio 2016 with Venus Williams in mixed doubles and at Paris 2024 with Austin Krajicek in men’s doubles.
In Cincinnati, Ram and Mektic showed their experience and chemistry. After dropping the first set, they took control by winning 87 percent of their first-serve points. The victory came in just their third tournament together, and it marked a milestone for both players.
At 41 years and four months, Ram became the second-oldest doubles champion in Cincinnati history, behind only Daniel Nestor, who won at 42 in 2015. Mektic, meanwhile, celebrated his 11th Masters 1000 title, the most by any active men’s doubles player.
“Tennis, right? Crazy stories,” Mektic said during the trophy presentation. “This is our third tournament together, even though we’ve known each other for three decades, probably. Thank you so much, I can’t thank you enough, and it was a pleasure playing this week.”
Ram also reflected on their shared history. “We’ve known each other a really long time,” he said. “We’ve played some great matches against each other. It’s so nice to have him on my side of the net.”
The victory propelled Ram and Mektic up 196 spots to No. 25 in the ATP Live Doubles Teams Rankings. Their success adds momentum ahead of the US Open, where Ram will look to extend his dominance in New York.
Ram has already captured three of his six Grand Slam titles at the US Open. Mektic, meanwhile, is a former finalist, having reached the 2020 championship match with Wesley Koolhof.
Off the court, Ram continues to give back to the sport. Through the Rajeev Ram Foundation, he supports tennis development in Indiana and organizes the Indy Challenger, an ATP Challenger-level event. His efforts aim to inspire the next generation of players while strengthening tennis in his home state.
Rajeev Ram’s victory in Cincinnati highlights a career defined by persistence, skill, and adaptability. From his early days in college tennis to his rise as a Grand Slam champion and Olympic medalist, he has remained a force on the court.
With the US Open looming, Ram and Mektic will aim to build on their success at Cincinnati. For Ram, the win is not just another trophy; it is proof that even at 41, his passion and drive continue to shine on the biggest stages in tennis.
