“I’ve had a lot of years at the top of the game, it’s very hard to maintain that level of intensity” – Rajeev Ram reflects on reaching the Cincinnati Masters semis!
CINCINNATI, OH – Following a commanding victory in the men’s doubles quarter-finals at the ATP Cincinnati Masters on Friday, August 15, 2025, veteran doubles specialist Rajeev Ram spoke with Sarika Reddy of Indian Tennis Daily. Alongside partner Nikola Mektić, Ram reflected on their strong performance, the ups and downs of the 2025 season, the progress of his mentee Nishesh Basavareddy, and the special feeling of competing on home soil.
Sarika Reddy, Indian Tennis Daily: Rajeev, congratulations on a great win. Can you share your thoughts on the quarter-final match today?
Rajeev Ram: Yeah, I thought we played really well, actually. We were up against a team that has had a great year together, so we knew we had to start strong. That was a really important focus for us right from the beginning—to serve well, take the chances that we had, and not give them too many openings. I was really happy with how we performed.
Indian Tennis Daily: Even in a strong performance like this, is there anything you feel you and your partner could have done differently?
Rajeev Ram: I mean, there are always things you can do better. In the first game, I didn’t serve very well but managed to get out of it. The most important thing is that we stuck together and competed really hard the whole time. We didn’t get ahead of ourselves when we were winning; we just stayed focused and played one point at a time.
Indian Tennis Daily: After a challenging stretch recently, you’ve secured some impressive wins this week. How do you evaluate your overall performance here, and what does it mean to you to play so well at a tournament that’s so close to home?
Rajeev Ram: Yeah, this tournament’s been great. Look, it’s obviously not been my best year by any stretch. As you get a little older, it gets harder. I’ve had a lot of years at the top of the game, and I think it’s very hard to maintain that level of intensity. But this stretch of the season has always been very nice for me. It’s close to home, I love playing on this surface, and there are a lot of familiar faces around—friends, family, and just people I know. Playing at home is one of the things I enjoy most about tennis, and this tournament is probably the one that feels the most like that.
Indian Tennis Daily: By your own high standards, this season has presented some challenges. How do you reflect on your year so far?
Rajeev Ram: Yeah, I mean, tennis is a sport that goes up and down. To think that every season is going to be great and that you’re going to come away with trophies and medals is not realistic. Especially as you get a little bit older, the challenges increase because you have physical ones to deal with as well. So, it’s been a great learning experience for me to go through some of these things and realize what I can do, and what I can do better. But it also makes me appreciate the times when I was at the top for so long; it makes you proud of those moments.
Indian Tennis Daily: On another note, your mentee, Nishesh Basavareddy, also had a strong showing this week. What are your thoughts on his progress and performance?
Rajeev Ram: He’s going through the beginning stages of a professional career. He had a lot of wins last year at the Challenger level, and this year, stepping up to the Tour level, it’s been a bit more difficult because the competition is just that much harder. But he’s progressing. I think focusing on his improvement and his game, rather than just the results all the time, is going to be really important for him. I thought he played great this week. Every week is a learning experience. He gets to play against some of the top players in the world, and for those of us who support him, it’s great to see him play someone like a Zverev. It shows us exactly where he can improve, what he can do better, and what the next step is. These are great opportunities to get better.
Indian Tennis Daily: You mentioned this is a home tournament for you. You’ve been playing here for a long time. How have you seen the event and its facilities evolve over the years?
Rajeev Ram: Yeah, I was just telling someone the other day, the first time I played here was in 2003. I was 19 years old, and it looked completely different. It’s really great when you see people invest in tennis. For a long time, Indian Wells set that standard. But for me, Cincinnati has now kind of taken over as the premier tennis facility we have on tour. It’s so good for the sport, for the fans, for the players, and everyone involved. It’s such a nice thing, and I’m proud to be from this area, for sure.
Indian Tennis Daily: Thank you so much for your time, Rajeev. Best of luck in the semi-finals.
Rajeev Ram: Thank you so much.
Results
Here are Rajeev Ram’s results in the men’s doubles at the ATP Cincinnati Masters this week, playing alongside his partner Nikola Mektić:
- Quarterfinals (Friday, August 15): Defeated Christian Harrison and Evan King with a score of 6-4, 6-4.+1
- Round of 16 (Wednesday, August 13): Defeated Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz with a score of 7-6(3), 7-5.
- Round of 32: Defeated Adam Pavlasek and Jan Zielinski with a score of 3-6, 6-1, 10-8.
Photos from the match
