The 2022 ATP doubles season experienced a mix of familiar teams at the top, new partnerships that successfully emerged and top singles players who played doubles regularly and performed well. The top 8 teams who qualified for Turin are representative of these trends with a broad mix of veterans and newcomers.
2022 ATP Teams Preview
Leading the pack are top seeds Wesley Koolhof and Neal Skupski, a new duo in 2022 who racked up a tour-leading seven titles and recently claimed the No. 1 ranking. In their fourth consecutive ATP Finals Appearance, No. 2 seeds Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury are the most experienced partnership in the field with three major titles and three Master 1000 titles together.
While several teams will be making their first appearance together, many individual players in the 2022 field have made multiple ATP Finals appearances throughout their careers. Ivan Dodig has qualified for 8 of the last 10 ATP Finals since 2012 with four different partners. Jean-Julien Rojer, a 2015 ATP Finals champion, and Marcel Granollers, a 2012 ATP Finals champion, are both making their 7th ATP Finals Appearance in 11 years.
The biggest name in the field, however, is the infamous Nick Kyrgios. He and fellow Aussie partner Thanasi Kokkinakis narrowly qualified for the last spot largely due to their Australian Open title at the beginning of the year. Despite being seeded No. 8, they will certainly be dangerous opponents to anyone they face (and added entertainment value at the very least).
As we gear up for the ATP Doubles Finals in Turin, we’ll take a deep dive into all eight teams and their respective round-robin groups:
Green Group:
- Wesley Koolhoff & Neal Skupski (1)
- Nikola Mektic & Mate Pavic (4)
- Ivan Dodig & Austin Krajicek (5)
- Thanasi Kokkinakis & Nick Kyrgios (8)
Red Group:
- Rajeev Ram & Joe Salisbury (2)
- Marcelo Arevalo & Jean-Julien Rojer (3)
- Lloyd Glasspool & Harri Heliovaara (6)
- Marcel Granollers & Horacio Zeballos (7)
1. Wesley Koolhof & Neal Skupski
Green Group
With a tour-leading seven titles and 10 finals in 2022, the new No. 1 ranked doubles team of Wesley Koolhof and Neal Skupski have been the hottest team of the year in their debut season together.
Their high energy, natural athleticism, and strong doubles IQ make them an incredibly fun team to watch (and learn from). Both players are excellent returners with a strong offensive and defensive game, and very few weaknesses to target.
The only missing gap on their 2022 doubles resume is the absence of a major. Koolhof’s only previous appearance at the ATP Finals was a successful venture, winning the 2020 trophy with Nikola Mektic. Skupski will make his ATP Finals debut alongside Koolhof as the top-ranked team with a target on their back.
2022 Snapshot
- 2022 Team Record: 56-17 (77%)
- 2022 Titles/Finals: 7 Titles (Melbourne, Adelaide 2, Doha, ATP Masters 1000 Madrid, ‘s-Hertogenbosch, ATP Masters 1000 Canada, & ATP Masters 1000 Paris); 3 finals (Miami, Barcelona, U.S. Open)
- Season Highlights: Where to begin? Unlike other teams in the field, they haven’t had a noticeable period throughout the year where they caught fire and won the bulk of their points. Koolhof and Skupski have been solid all year long with titles on every surface. Koolhof sealed the No. 1 ranking after their most recent win in Paris.
- 2022 H2H vs. Field: 8-5 (62%)
- Ram/Salisbury: 1-2
- Arevalo/Rojer: 4-0
- Mektic/Pavic: 0-1
- Dodig/Krajicek: 1-0
- Glasspool/Heliovaara: 2-1
- Granollers/Zeballos: 0-1
- Kokkinakis/Kyrgios: 0-0
2. Rajeev Ram & Joe Salisbury
Red Group
In their fourth full season playing together, Ram and Salisbury have been a pillar of consistency at the top of the ATP doubles game in a post-Bryan Brothers era. So consistent that they have now qualified for four consecutive ATP Finals.
Both former NCAA collegiate standouts at University of Illinois and University of Memphis, respectively, Ram and Salisbury’s college roots help them thrive in a competitive team environment on the doubles court. Over the last three years, they have won three majors and three ATP Masters 1000 titles together.
In their fourth ATP finals together, Ram and Salisbury have advanced one step closer to the trophy each year. They failed to make it out of group play in 2019, advanced to the semi-finals in 2020, and finished runner-up in 2021. Ram also finished runner-up in 2016 with former partner Raven Klaasen.
Could 2022 be their year to finish on top?
Related Podcast
Rajeev Ram Podcast Interview: Listen to Rajeev Ram talk about his doubles career and offer doubles strategy insight on the Doubles Only Podcast.
2022 Snapshot
- 2022 Team Record: 32-14 (69%)
- 2022 Titles/Finals: 3 Titles (ATP Masters 1000 Monte Carlo, ATP Masters 1000 Cincinnati, & U.S. Open)
- Season Highlights: After suffering a heart-breaking five-set loss in the Wimbledon semifinals to Matt Ebden and Max Purcell, Ram and Salisbury rebounded on the North American hardcourt swing with a 10-0 run by claiming back-to-back titles in Cincinnati and the U.S. Open. They were the first duo to win back-to-back U.S. Open titles in 2021-2022 since The Woodies in 1995-1996.
- 2022 H2H vs. Field: 3-5 (38%)
- Skupski/Koolhof: 2-1
- Arevalo/Rojer: 0-0
- Mektic/Pavic: 0-0
- Dodig/Krajicek: 0-2
- Glasspool/Heliovaara: 0-2
- Granollers/Zeballos: 0-0
- Kokkinakis/Kyrgios: 1-0
Related Podcast
Ram & Salisbury’s Coach Talks Doubles: Listen to Dave O’Hare talk doubles strategy and share what it’s like coaching Joe and Rajeev on The Doubles Only Podcast.
3. Marcelo Arevalo & Jean-Julien Rojer
Red Group
Arevalo, nicknamed “Chelo”, and Rojer teamed up at the beginning of 2022 and enjoyed a breakout season with their first major together at Roland Garros. Arevalo brings an unconventional baseline-heavy game with a big forehand and serve that complements Rojer’s natural net instincts and incredible hands.
While Arevalo enters his first ATP finals in 2022, his partner is no stranger to the big stage at the end of the season. Rojer has been a fixture at the top of the ATP doubles landscape for well over a decade. He won the 2015 ATP Finals doubles title alongside former partner Horia Tecau and has qualified for 7 of the last 11 ATP Finals with three different partners (Qureshi, Tecau, and Arevalo).
This high-energy Spanish-speaking duo is full of confidence and fun to watch with frequent shouts of “Vamos Chelo” throughout their matches. Will Arevalo’s baseline habits help or hurt them against teams who are aggressive at the net?
2022 Snapshot
- 2022 Team Record: 38-19 (67%)
- 2022 Titles/Finals: 4 Titles (Dallas, Delray Beach, Roland Garros, & Stockholm) and 1 Final (Acapulco).
- Season Highlights: Chelo and Rojer caught fire early in the year with back-to-back 250 wins in Dallas and Delray Beach and a runner-up performance in Acapulco. During this three-week stretch, they finished with an 11-1 record. The ultimate peak of their season was winning their first major together at Roland Garros (and Rojer’s first since 2017), where they fought off three championship points to defeat Ivan Dodig/Austin Krajicek.
- 2022 H2H vs. Field:4-5 (44%)
- Skupski/Koolhoff: 0-4
- Ram/Salisbury: 0-0
- Mektic/Pavic: 1-0
- Dodig/Krajicek: 1-1
- Glasspool/Heliovara: 2-0
- Granollers/Zeballos: 0-0
- Kokkinakis/Kyrgios: 0-0
4. Nikola Mektic & Mate Pavic
Green Group
After an incredible 2021 season where they won nine titles (including Wimbledon), an Olympic gold medal, and finished as the year-end No. 1 team, a letdown in 2022 was inevitable to some degree. Despite a slow start to the year with early round exits and tough draws, Mektic and Pavic found their 2021 mojo midway through the year winning five titles in eight finals attempts.
2022 marks their second consecutive ATP Finals together as a team and fourth individual appearance for both players. Mektic won the ATP Finals doubles title in 2020 with Wesley Koolhof and also qualified in 2018 with Alexander Peya. Pavic qualified in 2018 with Oliver Marach and in 2020 with Bruno Soares before teaming up with Mektic in 2021.
Mektic and Pavic are both exceptional returners that make holding serve very difficult for their opponents when both players are returning well. They’re also a lefty-righty combo, which makes it difficult to hit the ball through them at the net.
With favorable head-to-heads against the field, experience should play in their favor as they seek their first ATP finals title together.
2022 Snapshot
- 2022 Team Record: 49-20 (71%)
- 2022 Titles/Finals: 5 Titles (ATP Masters 1000 Rome, Geneva, London/Queen’s Club, Eastbourne, & Astana) and 3 Finals (Dubai, Belgrade, & Wimbledon)
- Season Highlights: Mektic and Pavic had two impressive runs during the clay and grass season. On the clay, they won back-to-back titles at Rome and Geneva and during an 11-0 run before falling in the Round of 16 at Roland Garros. Their fine form continued on grass with back-to-back titles at Queen’s/Eastbourne and a runner-up performance at Wimbledon, where they lost a five-set heartbreaker to Matt Ebden/Max Purcell. They went 13-1 during this three-tournament stretch together.
- 2022 H2H vs. Field: 5-2 (71%)
- Koolhof/Skupski: 1-0
- Ram/Salisbury: 0-0
- Arevalo/Rojer: 0-1
- Dodig/Krajicek: 1-0
- Glasspool/Heliovaara: 2-0
- Granollers/Zeballos: 1-0
- Kokkinakis/Kyrgios: 0-1
5. Ivan Dodig & Austin Krajicek
Green Group
Ivan Dodig and Austin Krajicek teamed up at the start of the clay season and have since made an impressive run to their first ATP Finals together. A lefty/righty combo, these two have been on a tear during the fall season because of their dominant patterns. They get to the net often, apply pressure to finish the point, and frequently force errors. Krajicek is also very athletic and a great defender.
Similar to Rojer, Dodig has been a consistent fixture at the top of the men’s doubles game for the last decade. He has now qualified for 8 of the last 10 ATP Finals with four different partners dating back to his first appearance in 2012.
Krajicek will certainly lean on this vast experience as he makes his debut performance this year. Could this trending team continue building on their momentum and capture the title? It would be Dodig’s first ATP finals trophy in eight attempts. His best result came in 2016 as runner-up.
They might be the No. 5 seed on paper, but they come into Turin as one of the hottest teams on tour right now capable of beating any team.
2022 Snapshot
- 2022 Team Record: 34-16 (68%)
- 2022 Titles/Finals: 3 Titles (Lyon, Naples, & Basel) and 4 Finals (Roland Garros, Washington, Florence, & Paris)
- Season Highlights: Dodig and Krajicek first made a big dent on the doubles circuit together with an unexpected run to the finals at Roland Garros, where they lost a heartbreaker to Arevalo/Rojer after missing out on three championship points. They rebounded with an impressive fall season making four finals in a row (Florence, Naples, Basel, and Paris) and winning two of them.
- 2022 H2H vs. Field: 4-5 (44%)
- Koolhof/Skupski: 0-1
- Ram/Salisbury: 2-0
- Arevalo/Rojer: 1-1
- Mektic/Pavic: 0-1
- Glasspool/Heliovaara: 0-1
- Granollers/Zeballos: 1-1
- Kokkinakis/Kyrgios: 0-0
6. Lloyd Glasspool & Henri Heliovaara
Red Group
The newcomers of the Final 8 squad in Turin this year, Lloyd Glasspool and Harri Heliovaara are both making their ATP Finals debut in 2022. This duo has been steadily building all year long into one of the most consistent performers on a week-in, week-out basis.
Glasspool and Heliovaara come into the ATP finals full of confidence with career-high doubles rankings of 14 and 12, respectively. Plus, they hold season wins over both top-seeded teams, Koolhoff/Skupski and Ram/Salisbury. Their biggest kryptonite in 2022 has come in tournament finals, where they hold a 1-6 record.
Can they turn their finals fate around with a surprising win in Turin?
2022 Snapshot
- 2022 Record: 45-25 (64%)
- 2022 Titles & Finals: 1 Title (Hamburg) and 6 Finals (Montpellier, Dallas, London/Queen’s Club, Umag, Metz, & Stockholm)
- Season Highlights: Their season has been marked by consistent performance that includes one title, seven finals, a semifinals finish at Masters 1000 Paris Indoors, and two major quarterfinal appearances at Roland Garros and the U.S. Open.
- 2022 H2H vs. Field: 5-6 (45%)
- Koolhof/Skupski: 1-2
- Ram/Salisbury: 2-0
- Arevalo/Rojer: 0-2
- Mektic/Pavic: 0-2
- Dodig/Krajicek: 1-0
- Granollers/Zeballos: 0-0
- Kokkinakis/Kyrgios: 1-0
7. Marcel Granollers & Horacio Zeballos
Perhaps no other team in Turin has flown under the radar in 2022 as much as Granollers and Zeballos. While this lefty-righty duo may lack the star power, signature wins, or dominant runs of other teams in 2022, they make up for it with their doubles experience.
Granollers enters his 7th ATP Finals this year with his 3rd different partner. In 2012, he won the event with fellow Spaniard Marc Lopez. Over the next few years, he qualified again in 2013 and 2014 with Lopez and again in 2017 with Ivan Dodig. Granollers and Zeballos have qualified together three consecutive years from 2020-2022, joining Ram/Salisbury as the only other team in the field to make the ATP Finals three-peat this decade.
2022 Snapshot
- 2022 Record: 26-14 (65%)
- 2022 Titles & Finals: 1 title in Halle; 0 finals
- Season Highlights: Along with their title win at Halle, Granollers and Zeballos saved some of their best tennis in 2022 for the biggest stages with semifinal appearances at the Australian Open and Roland Garros.
- 2022 H2H vs. Field: 2-4 (33%)
- Koolhof/Skupski: 1-0
- Ram/Salisbury: 0-0
- Arevalo/Rojer: 0-0
- Mektic/Pavic: 0-1
- Dodig/Krajicek: 1-1
- Glasspool/Heliovaara: 0-0
- Kokkinakis/Kyrgios: 0-2
8. Thanasi Kokkinakis & Nick Kyrgios
Green Group
Last but certainly not least, fan favorites Thanasi Kokkinakis and Nick Kyrgios narrowly qualified for the final spot despite playing limited matches together in 2022. They won two of the six events they played, at the Australian Open and Atlanta Open, and finished the year with the highest win percentage of any other team in the field (79%).
Don’t let the No. 8 behind their name fool you; this team has the upside to beat anyone in the draw when they are in the zone. Kyrgios is one of the most talented players on the singles and doubles court and has the ability to take over a match when he wants to.
As always, there will be question marks. What kind of form will they be in? How will Kyrgios conduct himself on the court? Will they take it seriously? Let’s see what Special K brings to the doubles court in their first ATP Finals appearance together.
2022 Snapshot
- 2022 Record: 19-5 (79%)
- 2022 Titles & Finals: 2 titles (Australian Open, Atlanta Open) and zero finals
- Season Highlights: “Special K” started off the 2022 season with an unexpected run to the Australian Open title. Much to the delight of the home Aussie crowd, they defeated fellow Aussies Matt Ebden and Max Purcell to win their first major title together. Winning this title helped them secure a bulk of their points for the ATP Finals.
- 2022 H2H vs. Field: 3-2 (60%)
- Koolhof/Skupski: 0-0
- Ram/Salisbury: 0-1
- Arevalo/Rojer: 0-0
- Mektic/Pavic: 1-0
- Dodig/Krajicek: 0-0
- Glasspool/Heliovaara: 0-1
- Granollers/Zeballos: 2-0
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