Koolhof/Skupski Claim Year-End No. 1 Pepperstone ATP Doubles Team Ranking
Koolhof/Skupski Claim Year-End No. 1 Pepperstone ATP Doubles Team Ranking
Wesley Koolhof and Neal Skupski clinched year-end No. 1 in the Pepperstone ATP Doubles Team Rankings on Sunday when they lifted the Rolex Paris Masters trophy. It is first time either player has been part of the year-end No. 1 duo.
The Dutchman and Briton made a quick start to their partnership at the beginning of the season and have not looked back. The pair has won seven titles this year, including triumphs at three ATP Masters 1000 events.
“[It means] a lot, obviously. It was one of the goals we set for this year. I think we’ve reached all the goals we set in January, so it means the world to us,” Koolhof said. “I think we’ve been playing great tennis from the start in Australia and managed to keep it going until here. We have one more week to go, so let’s continue this run in Turin.”
Koolhof and Skupski began 2022 by lifting trophies at ATP 250 events in Melbourne and Adelaide. That set the tone for the year, in which they have tallied a 54-17 record.
Their biggest victories of the season came at the ATP Masters 1000 tournaments in Madrid, Montreal and Paris. They have also triumphed in Doha and ’s-Hertogenbosch.
Other notable results include runs to the championship match in Miami, Barcelona and at the US Open.
“It’s been great with Wes from day one really in Australia. We just keep growing. We have a few setbacks here and there, but we bounce straight back,” Skupski said. “We both work hard. We get along very well off the court. I think that’s one of the keys to gel on the court. We keep putting the work in, things seem to be paying off. Hopefully we can keep going in Turin.”
Individually, Koolhof will also become No. 1 in the Pepperstone ATP Doubles Rankings for the first time on Monday.
The year-end No. 1 duo will try to punctuate its standout season on a high as at the Nitto ATP Finals. Koolhof will appear at the season finale for the second time and Skupski will make his debut. Koolhof lifted the trophy at the year-end championships in 2020 with Nikola Mektic.