TORONTO - Former Illini Rajeev Ram won his third ATP Masters 1000 title yesterday at the National Bank Open with partner Joe Salisbury. The team defeated Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic on Sunday  6-3, 4-6, 10-3 to capture their first ATP Masters 1000 title as a team.

"It is pretty special when you can win at one of these Masters 1000 events," Ram said. "This is our third yeah and we have been close. We lost in the final at Rome and lost in the semi-finals at this tournament a few years ago, so it is good to get through it. We worked really hard to give us more opportunities like this and we were able to produce a really high level."

They hit eight aces and won 90 per cent (27/30) of their first-service points to gain revenge and record their victory in 83 minutes. It is the fourth tour-level title Ram and Salisbury have won together but first this year.

With the win, Ram and Salisbury become the first doubles team to book their spot at the 2021 Nitto ATP Finals in July and have recorded 56 victories this season, holding a 9-3 record in championship matches.