Salisbury/Skupski Shine Bright, Edge Closer to SFs at Nitto ATP Finals
Britain’s dynamic duo overcomes second seeds Heliovaara/Patten, improving to 2-0 in the John McEnroe Group.
November 12, 2025
Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour
Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski are making their inaugural appearance together at the Nitto ATP Finals.
By Jerome Coombe
Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski showcased their formidable skills at the Nitto ATP Finals on Wednesday, clinching yet another impressive win that propels them toward a spot in the semi-finals.
This British team fought valiantly against second seeds Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten, triumphing 7-6(7), 3-6, 10-7 in a gripping two-hour duel during their second round-robin match. Despite a medical timeout in the first set, Salisbury, bolstered by Skupski’s stellar performance, displayed remarkable agility in the crucial Match Tie-break, extending their winning streak at this elite season finale to 12 matches—a continuation of their success from 2022-23 with partner Rajeev Ram.
Two From Two ✌️
Salisbury & Skupski triumph over Heliovaara/Patten in a gripping match tiebreak, holding onto their undefeated record! #NittoATPFinals pic.twitter.com/bAqaZIyFHp
— ATP Tour (@atptour) November 12, 2025
“I wasn’t at my best physically today; I think I caught a bug overnight,” Salisbury admitted. “But Neal was phenomenal. I lacked my usual energy, yet I knew he was right there pushing through. He carried a lot of the load, and I’m not sure how we pulled that off in the end.”
With this victory, Salisbury and Skupski now sit at 2-0 in the John McEnroe Group. They can secure a semi-final berth later today if Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic emerge victorious against Christian Harrison and Evan King.
The pivotal moment of the match appeared at 7/7 in the Match Tie-break, where Salisbury executed a brilliant forehand return winner that kissed the outside edge of the line. This set off a sweep of three consecutive points that sealed the victory for the Brits, leveling their Lexus ATP Head2Head series against Heliovaara/Patten at 2-2.
“The level was high throughout; the margins were razor-thin,” Skupski reflected. “As a team, we’ve battled hard all year, and in tie-break situations, we never back down. Our crucial matches this season have really bolstered our confidence.”
This is the first time for Salisbury and Skupski at the Nitto ATP Finals after a stellar 2025 season, where they advanced to five finals, including major showdowns at Roland Garros and the US Open. They currently hold a commendable 57-26 record for the year, as per the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index, and are set to face Harrison and King in their final group-stage match on Friday.
