Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe are set to return to the U.S. Open women’s doubles final, two years after their thrilling debut together, which culminated in their first Grand Slam victory in the vibrant atmosphere of New York.
The road hasn’t been smooth since that glorious moment. Yet, amidst the challenges they’ve faced over the past 18 months, it feels like they are truly finding their rhythm again.
This formidable pair, renowned for their aggressive net play that keeps opponents on their toes, has certainly faced their share of discomfort.
Dabrowski hails from Ottawa, while Routliffe, although a Canadian residing in Montreal, proudly represents New Zealand on the international stage. They’ve navigated the storm together, especially after Dabrowski’s breast cancer diagnosis in April 2024, followed by her rigorous treatment.
In a testament to their deep-seated partnership, both athletes endured the same injury last year: fractured ribs caused by prolonged bouts of coughing due to bronchitis.
For Routliffe, this setback occurred in the off-season following their impressive victory at the WTA Tour Finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia last November.
Dabrowski faced her own challenge in February when an MRI at Indian Wells didn’t detect the injury initially.
However, after just a week into the European clay-court season, she found herself in significant pain once more. This led to their withdrawal from the semifinals of a tournament just prior to Roland Garros.
Consequently, they missed the French Open for the second consecutive year, adding to their list of challenges.
Routliffe’s injury took away their chance for a proper pre-season, forcing them to dive straight into the Australian Open without any prior match experience.
However, their resilience shone through as they fought through three thrilling three-set matches before exiting in the semifinals—a commendable achievement.
Yet, following that high, victories became elusive, compounded by Dabrowski’s rib injury.
“We started the year on a rocky note,” Routliffe reflected. “For several months, we weren’t playing up to our potential. Losing a string of close matches really took a toll on our confidence, especially while managing our injuries.”
“It’s been a fairly average year for us, but we committed to the process, consistently practicing hard, and maintained faith that the results would eventually come.”
Dabrowski underwent two surgeries and endocrine therapy for her breast cancer in 2024, all while juggling a demanding tennis itinerary. Notably, she reached the Wimbledon doubles final alongside Routliffe and secured a mixed doubles bronze medal at the Paris Olympics with Félix Auger-Aliassime.
“I tackled the rib injury head-on,” Dabrowski shared.
“I had a robust support system, constantly communicating with doctors and physiotherapists. I even invested in my own healing ultrasound machine in the weeks leading to Wimbledon.”
“I underwent dynamic ultrasound scans multiple times to monitor my progress and assess how risky it was to compete. Reaching the quarterfinals at Wimbledon felt like a significant victory in itself.”
Following an early exit last month in Montreal, they bounced back triumphantly, clinching a Masters 1000 title in Cincinnati.
The third-seeded tandem has demonstrated remarkable resilience in New York, achieving two comeback victories thus far. Most recently, they dispatched the second-seeded Italian duo of Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini, winning 6-4, 6-3 in the semifinals.
In Friday’s exhilarating final, they will face off against the top-seeded team of American Taylor Townsend and Czechia’s Katerina Siniakova.
This formidable pair, champions of the Australian Open this year, arrive having not dropped a single set in five matches leading to the final. Siniakova boasts an impressive ten women’s Grand Slam doubles titles with various partners.
In their only previous encounter, Dabrowski and Routliffe triumphed over them in the final of the WTA Finals.
Dabrowski continues to navigate the aftermath of her cancer treatment, undergoing scans every six months and remaining on endocrine therapy.
She describes the side effects as being “very similar to menopause.”
“In 2023, I gained a profound appreciation for our partnership and our supporting team. It has been incredible to experience such swift success from the outset,” Dabrowski said. “Now, reflecting on this year’s challenges, I realize just how fortunate I am to play tennis. It’s a privilege, not an obligation.”
“I could choose to retire tomorrow and still feel fulfilled by my career and the friendships I’ve formed along the way. Personally, I feel at peace, so any success I achieve feels like a bonus.”
