The British pairing of Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski defeated Indian Yuki Bhambri and his partner Michael Venus in the semifinals of the US Open on Friday.In a closely contested match, Salisbury and Skupski overcame a one-set deficit to win 6(2)-7, 7-6(5), 6-4, advancing to the final at Flushing Meadows.The opening set showcased an evenly matched contest as both teams remained tied at 3-3. The Indo-Kiwi pair managed to take the lead before being challenged by the British duo, ultimately leading to a tie-breaker.Bhambri and Venus dominated the first set tie-breaker, securing seven points while limiting their opponents to just two points.The second set began with Bhambri and Venus breaking early to take the lead. However, Salisbury and Skupski staged a comeback, forcing another tie-breaker which they won to level the match.
The deciding third set went in favor of the British pair, who secured a 6-4 victory to claim their spot in the final.Bhambri and Venus had shown impressive form throughout the tournament. They began their campaign with a convincing 6-0, 6-3 victory over Marcos Giron and Learner Tien.In the second round, they continued their strong performance by defeating Gonzalo Escobar and Miguel Angel Reyes-Varela 6-1, 7-5.The Indo-Kiwi combination then eliminated the German team of Tim Putz and Kevin Krawietz in straight sets 6-4, 6-4 in the Round of 16.Their quarterfinal victory came against Mektic and Ram, setting up the semifinal clash with the British pair.Despite their strong run in the tournament, Bhambri and Venus couldn’t overcome the challenge posed by Salisbury and Skupski, who demonstrated remarkable resilience after losing the first set.The British duo’s comeback victory earned them a place in the final of the hard court Grand Slam event at Flushing Meadows.
