Imagine standing on the precipice of tennis history, knowing that victory would etch your name alongside legends. That’s exactly where Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten found themselves on Sunday, as they clinched their first-ever Nitto ATP Finals crown in a thrilling 7-5, 6-3 victory over Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski. But here’s where it gets controversial: could this win mark the beginning of a new era in doubles tennis, or was it merely a momentary upset against a dominant force? Let’s dive in.
The Nitto ATP Finals, held on November 16, 2025, witnessed a remarkable display of resilience and precision from the second-seeded duo. What’s even more astonishing is that Heliovaara and Patten didn’t drop a single serve throughout the entire tournament—a feat that underscores their dominance. This win wasn’t just about lifting the trophy; it was about ending Salisbury’s impressive 14-match winning streak at the Finals, where he had previously claimed titles in 2022 and 2023 alongside Rajeev Ram. And this is the part most people miss: Salisbury’s failure to qualify in 2024 made this comeback all the more significant.
The path to the final wasn’t without its challenges. After defeating Italians Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori in the semifinals, Heliovaara and Patten faced Salisbury and Skupski, the same team that had bested them in the round-robin stage. However, the Finn-British duo turned the tables with a commanding performance, improving their Lexus ATP Head2Head record to 3-2 against their rivals. Their strategy was flawless: a combination of stunning passing shots and an unbreakable serve game that left their opponents reeling.
This victory wasn’t just a personal triumph; it was a historical one. It marked the eighth time in the tournament’s history that a team avenged a round-robin loss by winning the championship match. For Heliovaara, the moment was surreal. ‘It’s hard to describe,’ he admitted. ‘Seeing my name next to Henry’s on that list of winners is unreal.’ Their season-ending 50-20 record, as per the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index, further cements their status as one of the top teams in the world. With previous wins at the Australian Open, Paris, and Beijing, this duo has proven they’re a force to be reckoned with.
The celebration in the Inalpi Arena was nothing short of iconic. Heliovaara dropped his racquet and let out a triumphant roar, while Patten raised his fist in victory. But here’s a thought-provoking question: Was this win purely about tennis, or did Patten’s recent engagement to longtime partner Ellie Stone add an extra layer of motivation? Patten himself admitted, ‘The tennis is pretty good, but the engagement was something special. I feel unbelievably lucky to have Ellie and Harri by my side.’
On the other side of the net, Salisbury and Skupski’s partnership ends with a respectable 46-22 record for the season. Despite falling short at the Nitto ATP Finals, the British duo also reached the title matches at Roland Garros and the US Open in 2025, proving their consistency at the highest level.
As the tennis world reflects on this historic win, one can’t help but wonder: Are Heliovaara and Patten the new kings of doubles tennis, or will Salisbury and Skupski regroup for a comeback? What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments below—let’s keep the debate alive!