Gabriela Dabrowski embarked on her year filled with challenges and uncertainty.
Fast forward to today, the 34-year-old Canadian is basking near the summit of the women’s doubles tennis rankings, celebrating what can arguably be one of her finest seasons yet.
“The results have been fantastic, but the strength of our collaboration behind the scenes has been even more rewarding,” shared the world No. 3. “I take immense pride in that.”
Dabrowski faced a setback right before heading to the United Cup in Australia last December when she suffered a torn plantar fascia in her left foot. This unfortunate injury forced her to withdraw from the tournament and limited her capabilities during her budding partnership with Luisa Stefani.
Previously, the duo advanced to the semifinals of the 2021 U.S. Open, but Stefani’s journey was cut short due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament, sidelining her for an entire year.
After parting ways with her former partner Erin Routliffe at the close of last season, Dabrowski felt a renewed spark in teaming up with Stefani once more.
“Our friendship has only deepened over the years, which made me believe in our potential as a team. We hold immense respect for each other off the court, and our playing styles complement one another beautifully,” explained the Canadian. “It felt like a natural choice, and thankfully, she agreed.”
Dabrowski emphasized that the success of their partnership lies in their shared vision of tennis.
“We thrive on taking charge with our serves and net plays. Our goal is to dictate the game, creating offensive chaos with our moves at the net. We both cherish creativity on the court, and having a partner who shares that philosophy allows us to express ourselves fully,” she remarked.
The freshly reunited pair entered the Australian Open in January as the fifth seeds. However, with Dabrowski still nursing her foot injury, she had reservations about her performance.
“Luisa was incredibly supportive,” Dabrowski recalled. “She understands just how acute injuries can derail aspirations, so her patience through that period was greatly appreciated.”
The pair reached the semifinals and soon after clinched their first title of the year in Dubai, which propelled Dabrowski to her career-high No. 2 spot in the WTA doubles rankings.
Despite ongoing injuries, Dabrowski pressed on, receiving a cortisone injection in April to combat inflammation and chronic plantar fasciitis stemming from her injury.
Gradually regaining her strength, she and Stefani continued their impressive run, making it to the semifinals at the French Open and then advancing to the finals at Wimbledon.
“I’ve been focusing on my health and fitness, and thankfully, my efforts are paying off,” Dabrowski expressed.
The duo returned to the U.S. Open in late August and again reached the semifinals, narrowly losing 6-4, 4-6, 6(8)-7 against the American pair Robin Montgomery and Ashlyn Krueger.
Undeterred, Dabrowski and Stefani quickly regrouped, claiming three consecutive titles in Sao Paulo, Beijing, and Wuhan.
“The semifinal defeat at the U.S. Open was disheartening, but we jumped back into action,” Dabrowski noted. “Winning in Sao Paulo, in Luisa’s hometown, was exhilarating. We continued striving for improvement and maintained our high standards. It was rewarding to find success so soon after that tough loss.”
“I think the highlight of our season would definitely be our victory in Beijing due to the resilience we showed,” she added.
The pair has now bagged six titles in 2026, which brings Dabrowski’s illustrious career total to 26. Additionally, she proudly holds an Olympic medal, having secured a bronze alongside Montreal’s Félix Auger-Aliassime at the 2024 Games in Paris.
While accumulating accolades, the rising tennis star is also committed to making a difference. She has been raising funds for organizations dedicated to combating domestic violence against girls and women in India and sub-Saharan Africa. For every match she wins in 2026, Dabrowski pledges $20.
This initiative, dubbed “Gaby’s Games for Good,” came to life after she learned of the alarming statistic from the World Health Organization that one in three girls and women globally has faced physical or sexual violence in their lifetime.
To date, she has successfully raised over $56,000 through her donations, as well as contributions from her sponsors and the WTA Foundation.
“We have a long way to go, and I aspire to live in a world where that statistic no longer exists; a world where women and girls are free from abuse. This is just our starting point,” Dabrowski stated. “And I hope this becomes a matter of public conversation, rather than remaining in the shadows.”
There are still many more matches on the horizon, too.
Dabrowski and Stefani are set to continue their season at the WTA Finals in Indian Wells, California. On Monday, they will face Elise Mertens and Zhang Shuai in the round-robin stage as the tournament’s top seeds.
Making it to this prestigious tournament is always a primary goal at the start of the season, shared Dabrowski, who is gearing up for her eighth appearance in the finals.
“It’s an esteemed event,” she said excitedly. “You’re up against the top eight singles players and doubles teams, making each match feel like a Grand Slam semifinal or final. The level of play is intense, and expectations are high. You have to hit the ground running!”
Following the finals, Dabrowski, a proud product of Ottawa, will join her Canadian teammates for a Billie Jean King Cup clash against Brazil in Vitoria.
Scheduled for Nov. 20 and 21, this competition could pit her against her partner, Stefani.
“We’ve faced off in competition before, so it’s not a big deal,” Dabrowski remarked about the potential matchup. “But I’m fiercely loyal to my Canadian teammates. We’ll just have to see how things unfold.”
