Canadian Gabriela Dabrowki and New Zealand born Erin Routliffe produced a dominant display in women’s doubles, defeating Americans Caroline Dolehide and Desirae Krawczyk 6-4, 6-3 to advance to the finals of Wimbledon.
It’s the second career Grand Slam final for the tandem, who continue their run of great tennis on the grass courts with the comprehensive straight sets victory.
The match initially started on even terms, as the teams traded four holds of serve in the opening set to stay level at 2-all.
It was then Routliffe and Dabrowski who created the first bout of scoreboard pressure in the match, with repeated chances in the American tandem’s serve in the fifth game. They would capitalize on their eighth break point opportunity, taking an early 3-2 first set lead.
The Americans managed to reply in the eighth game of the set, breaking to get even at 4-all, only to see the second seeds respond once again.
After their second break in the set, they closed out the first on serve, 6-4 in 54 minutes.
Last year’s US Open champions would continue their strong form into the second set, with aggressive serving and strong net play.
After trading holds with the seventh seeds to 2-all, again they applied return pressure in the fifth game, and capitalized on their second break point chance to seize the lead.
Meanwhile, the pair continued to serve at a high percentage, keeping their American opponents from gaining any opportunities on return.
Dolehide and Krawczyk managed only six return points total in the second set, and had zero break point chances.
Serving at 3-5 to stay alive, the Americans built a 40-15 lead in the game, but it wasn’t enough. Dabrowski and Routliffe won five consecutive points, clinching the win with a forehand winner on match point.
As a tandem, the second seeds made 82% of their first serves, while converting four of 17 break point chances in the 1 hour and 38 minute win.
With the victory, Ottawa’s Dabrowski returns to the finals at the All England Club in women’s doubles for the first time since 2019. Meanwhile, Routliffe has achieved her first career final at Wimbledon.
The Canadian-Kiwi pair improve to 12-2 on grass this season, and will now eye a second career title on the surface, after winning in Nottingham in June.
The pair will face Czechia’s Katerina Siniakova and American Taylor Townsend for the championship on Saturday.
