Dabrowski, Routliffe advance to doubles semis at year-ending WTA Finals

CANCÚN, Mexico – Ottawa’s Gabriela Dabrowski and partner Erin Routliffe of New Zealand advanced to the semifinals of the doubles event at the season-ending WTA Finals with a6-4, 6-2 victory over sixth seeds Laura Siegemund of Germany and Vera Zvonareva of Russia on Wednesday.

The match was a rematch of the U.S. Open women’s doubles final, which Dabrowski and Routliffe won 7-6 (9), 6-3.

Dabrowski and Routliffe went up a break and took a 4-3 lead in the first set.

Serving for the match at 5-4, Dabrowski saved two break points before winning the clinching game.

Dabrowski and Routliffe took a commanding 5-2 lead in the second set. Then, serving for the match at 40-0, Dabrowski saw her first three match points defended before finally clinching their second victory of the finals. The duo opened with a 7-6 (2), 6-3 win over top seeds Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff of the United States on Sunday.

Dabrowski and Routliffe, who grew up in Ontario and used to represent Canada before switching allegiances to her native New Zealand, close out the preliminary round with a match against fourth seeds Katerina Siniakova and Barbora Krejcikova of Czechia.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 1, 2023.