Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe staged yet another comeback on Thursday, overcoming Americans Caroline Dolehide and Desirae Krawczyk 4-6, 6-3, 10-6 to secure a berth in the semifinals of the WTA Finals Riyadh.
The No. 2 seeds came from a set and a break down to clinch victory in one hour and 33 minutes, securing the top spot in the White Group and completing the round-robin stage with a flawless 3-0 record for the second consecutive year.
This marked the third career meeting between the doubles pairs, with Dolehide and Krawczyk having most recently bested Dabrowski and Routliffe in the finals of the National Bank Open in Toronto.
After early breaks in the opening set, both teams sought to gain an edge. Following a love hold that pushed them ahead 5-4, the American duo found two return winners on Dabrowski’s serve, converting their first set point to capture the opener 6-4 in 38 minutes.
The No. 5 seeds carried their momentum into the second set, breaking Routliffe’s serve for a 2-0 lead. However, a double fault from Krawczyk allowed the 2023 US Open champions to regain their footing, and begin to find their rhythm.
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After holding serve to level the set at 3-all, Dabrowski and Routliffe broke Krawczyk’s serve to love and soon established a 5-3 lead. An overhead smash winner from Dabrowski on set point secured the second set 6-3, sending the clash to a match tiebreak.
While the No. 5 seeds built an early 4-2 lead in the breaker, the Canadian-Kiwi team responded with a clinical display of doubles, controlling play at the net. A series of winners from Dabrowski pushed them ahead 6-4, and Routliffe sealed the victory with an unreturnable first serve on match point.
Dabrowski and Routliffe are into the semifinals of the WTA Finals for a second year in a row. They will face sixth seeds and 2023 runners-up Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Ellen Perez for a spot in the final, which would be the first at this event for both the Canadian and the Kiwi.