Following their tense semifinal victory over the No. 2 seeds, Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool, Rajeev Ram and Nikola Mektić have advanced to the final of the ATP Cincinnati Masters. The match was decided by razor-thin margins, with Ram and Mektić clinching it in two tightly contested tie-break sets, 7-6, 7-6. Immediately after the tough encounter, Rajeev Ram sat down with Sarika Reddy to discuss the key moments, his partnership, and the challenging conditions on court.
Sarika Reddy: Rajeev, congratulations on the win. Can you share your thoughts on the match today?
Rajeev Ram: It was a tough match. Our opponents were on what felt like a historic streak, certainly a very long one, with wins all the way from Queen’s Club, through Wimbledon, and last week. I played them twice on grass. They’re a great team and in great form. We knew we would have to play well for a long time to get the win, so I was really happy with our performance.
Sarika Reddy: What was the game plan heading into the match? And looking back, is there anything you feel you could have done differently?
Rajeev Ram: There are always things you could do differently. We were up a break in both sets and couldn’t consolidate it. Both of us probably played a less-than-ideal service game when we were ahead, and that’s something we can try to improve on. But the main game plan was to take care of business on our side of the net. At this stage in a big tournament like this, everyone is playing well. It comes down to a few key shots. You have to have trust in your partner, trust in yourself, and just do the best you can. There isn’t much more to it than that.
Sarika Reddy: You played on Centre Court today under extreme heat conditions. Did the heat affect your performance or strategy in any way?
Rajeev Ram: The heat didn’t affect our strategy, but it definitely affected my performance. I struggled a bit today. Normally, I like the heat, but after several days of it, I really started to feel unwell in the second set. My stomach wasn’t feeling great, and I had the doctor come out to give me something. It was just hot out there. But I’m happy with our resilience—to feel unwell, then start to feel a bit better, and find the energy again to come through for the break in the second set was crucial.
Sarika Reddy: Can you share how your partnership with Nikola [Mektić] came about and how you would assess your chemistry and performance together so far?
Rajeev Ram: Nikola was sort of in between partners, and we’ve actually talked about playing together before, but it just never quite worked out for one reason or another. I’ve had a lot of respect for him for a very long time. We’ve played against each other in some huge matches—semifinals of Grand Slams, finals and semis in Turin. He’s been at the top for a long time, and his resume speaks for itself. I’ve always found him to be a really difficult player to deal with in the past, so teaming up with him felt like a really great opportunity.
Sarika Reddy: And finally, your longtime coach Bryan Smith has been in your corner all week. Can you speak about his role and impact during this tournament?
Rajeev Ram: He’s been on my side for about 25 years now—we started when I was 15. So, having him here for one week just makes it feel like home, which is a really nice thing for me. We’ve been at this for a long time. He’s a special guy, and I don’t think I would be in this position without him. Whether it’s this week, in the years to come, or in all the years before, he’s a truly special person for me and has had a huge impact on my tennis career.
Photos from the match
