Are you curious about Rajeev Ram’s journey from a tennis-loving kid in Indiana to a world-class doubles champion?
In this article, you will know Rajeev Ram’s net worth, career earnings, career overview, stats, relationship, and more.
Get ready to discover how Ram built his fortune, the highlights of his career, his family life, and the brands that trust his name.
Rajeev Ram’s Biography
Field | Information |
---|---|
Full Name | Rajeev Ram |
Date of Birth | March 18, 1984 |
Age | 41 |
Education | University of Illinois (attended) |
Nationality | American |
Height | 6 ft 4 in (193 cm) |
Weight | 185 lbs (84 kg) |
Turned Pro | 2004 |
Net Worth | $5 million |
Salary/Career Earnings | $9.8 million+ |
Wife | Zainab Saqib |
Instagram Profile | @rajeevram318 |
Early Career
Rajeev Ram was born in Denver, Colorado, to Indian immigrant parents Raghav and Sushma Ram. His father, a botanist from Bangalore, and his mother from Delhi, provided a strong foundation for his tennis journey.
The family moved to Carmel, Indiana, where Ram’s tennis career truly began at the local Carmel Racquet Club.
Ram started playing tennis at age four and quickly showed exceptional talent. He dominated junior tennis, winning nine national junior titles in singles and doubles combined. His high school career at Carmel High School was equally impressive, where he earned All-State honors and captured the state singles championship in 1999 as a sophomore.
His junior achievements included winning the 14-under National Claycourt singles championship in 1998, the boys 16-under national championship in 2000, and reaching the doubles final at the 2002 Wimbledon juniors competition.
Ram’s junior success led him to be regarded as the nation’s top college tennis recruit in 2002. However, he delayed enrollment at the University of Illinois until the second semester to continue playing as an amateur in professional tournaments, showing early signs of his professional ambitions.
Professional Career
Ram’s professional journey began in 2004 after spending one remarkable semester at the University of Illinois. During his brief college career in 2003, he helped the Fighting Illini achieve a perfect 32-0 season and win the NCAA team championship.
He also captured the NCAA doubles title with partner Brian Wilson, earning Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors.
His early professional years focused primarily on singles tennis, where he achieved a career-high ranking of world number 56 in April 2016. Ram won two ATP singles titles, both at the prestigious Hall of Fame Tennis Championships in Newport, Rhode Island, in 2009 and 2015.
The 2009 victory was particularly special as he won the title as a lucky loser, making him one of the few players to achieve this rare feat.
Ram made the pivotal decision to retire from singles tennis and focus exclusively on doubles. This transition proved transformative for his career. His partnership with British player Joe Salisbury, which began in 2019, catapulted him to the pinnacle of doubles tennis.
Together, they achieved the historic feat of winning three consecutive US Open doubles titles from 2021 to 2023, becoming the only men’s doubles pair in the Open Era to accomplish this remarkable achievement.
Wife
Rajeev Ram is married to Zainab Saqib, a woman of Pakistani descent who has been his life partner since their university days.
The couple first met at the University of Illinois, where both were students, and began dating in the mid-2000s. After a decade-long relationship, they exchanged vows in 2016 during an intimate wedding ceremony held in their hometown.
Zainab Saqib graduated in 2004 with a degree in accountancy and business from the Gies College of Business. She has built a successful career in the corporate world, working at prestigious companies including AstraZeneca, Kiwi Inc., Bausch + Lomb, and Rajeev Enterprises. Currently, she serves as a sales department representative at Progyny Inc..
The couple maintains a relatively private lifestyle, preferring to keep their personal lives away from social media spotlight. They are parents to a son, though his name remains undisclosed to protect the family’s privacy.
Both Rajeev and Zainab prefer to focus on their respective careers while maintaining strong family values that reflect their diverse cultural backgrounds.
Coach
Rajeev Ram’s primary coach is Bryan Smith, a relationship that has spanned over two decades since Ram was just 14 years old. Smith, a two-time IHSAA boys singles state champion representing Center Grove High School in 1990 and 1992, brings significant experience from his own playing days at Purdue University and Ball State University.
The coaching partnership between Ram and Smith represents one of the longest-standing relationships in professional tennis. Smith has served as a decorated teaching professional across Indianapolis and continues to coach Ram during his travels on the professional tour.
Their enduring collaboration has been instrumental in Ram’s development from a promising junior player to a world number one doubles specialist.
Ram also works with David O’Hare as part of his coaching staff, providing additional expertise and support throughout his professional career.
Additionally, Ram serves as a volunteer assistant coach for the University of California, Berkeley men’s tennis team since June 2020, giving back to the sport while continuing his own playing career.
Rajeev Ram’s Net Worth Details
As of 2025, Rajeev Ram’s net worth stands at $5 million.
Career Earnings
Year | Prize Money |
---|---|
2025 | $72,815 |
2024 | $428,670 |
2023 | $1,254,982 |
2022 | $1,510,408 |
2021 | $878,723 |
2020 | $462,714 |
2019 | $571,703 |
2018 | $487,070 |
2017 | $548,020 |
2016 | $923,408 |
2015 | $464,032 |
2014 | $262,974 |
2013 | $339,271 |
2012 | $284,016 |
2011 | $193,260 |
2010 | $236,154 |
2009 | $301,797 |
2008 | $107,808 |
2007 | $71,495 |
Endorsements
Ram’s endorsements include partnerships with New Balance, Babolat, and Solinco. These brands trust his reputation and skill, and he represents them on and off the court. His long-term relationship with these companies has helped boost his income and profile.
Ram also serves as a volunteer coach for the University of California, Berkeley men’s tennis team, showing his commitment to giving back to the sport.
Career Stats
Category | Value |
---|---|
Career High Rank | 1 (Doubles) |
Singles Titles | 2 |
Doubles Titles | 31 |
Grand Slam Doubles | 6 |
Olympic Medals | 2 Silver |
Career W-L (Singles) | 57-93 |
Career W-L (Doubles) | 492-348 |
Turned Pro | 2004 |
Total Prize Money | $9,824,267 |
FAQs
1. How many Grand Slam titles has Rajeev Ram won?
Ram has won six Grand Slam titles total – four in men’s doubles and two in mixed doubles. His men’s doubles victories include the 2020 Australian Open and three consecutive US Open titles from 2021-2023 with Joe Salisbury. He also won Australian Open mixed doubles titles and 2021 with Barbora Krejčíková.
2. When did Rajeev Ram become world number 1 in doubles?
Ram achieved the world number 1 doubles ranking for the first time on October 3, 2022, at age 38. This made him the oldest player ever to reach number 1 for the first time in ATP doubles rankings history, highlighting his remarkable late-career success.
3. What is Rajeev Ram’s ethnic background?
Ram is Indian-American, born to Indian immigrant parents. His father Raghav Ram was from Bangalore (a Kannadiga), while his mother Sushma Ram is from Delhi. Despite being born in Denver and raised in Indiana, he maintains strong connections to his Indian heritage.
4. Has Rajeev Ram won any Olympic medals?
Yes, Ram has won two Olympic silver medals. He first won silver in mixed doubles at the 2016 Rio Olympics partnering with Venus Williams. He earned his second silver medal in men’s doubles at the 2024 Paris Olympics alongside Austin Krajicek.
5. What charity work does Rajeev Ram do?
Ram founded the Rajeev Ram Foundation (originally called EntouRaj for Kids) in 2010 to support youth tennis in Indiana. The foundation provides grants to high school teams, college athletes, and high-performance players, helping make tennis more accessible to Indiana families while promoting programs that teach winning attitudes both in tennis and life.