In an exhilarating encounter at the Indian Wells Open, Ottawa’s Gabriela Dabrowski teamed up with New Zealand’s Erin Routliffe to triumph over Montreal’s Leylah Fernandez and Brazil’s Luisa Stefani in a gripping women’s doubles match. The match unfolded on Friday night, showcasing exceptional talent and competition.
Despite facing an initial setback, with Fernandez and Stefani snatching the first set 7-5, Dabrowski and Routliffe, the tournament’s second seeds, surged back to claim the second set 6-3. They then dominated the decisive third set in the tiebreaker, finishing strong with an impressive score of 10-1.
The match was characterized by intense competition, marking a balance of power as neither duo managed to land an ace, while both groups tallied six double faults. Dabrowski and Routliffe converted 6 out of 14 break point opportunities, whereas Fernandez and Stefani excelled with a remarkable 6 out of 9.
In the men’s second-round singles action, 20th-seeded Arthur Fils from France put on a dominant performance against Montreal’s Gabriel Diallo, finishing with a straight-set victory of 6-2, 6-2. While Diallo showcased his serve with three aces compared to Fils’ none, he also had to contend with two double faults.
Fils displayed remarkable efficiency, converting five out of eight break points and winning a staggering 88% of his first serves, in stark contrast to Diallo’s 45%. This match served as a testament to Fils’ prowess on the court as he secured a place in the next round.
