Perfect Week at WTA Finals Riyadh for Dabrowski and Routliffe
Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe capped off a flawless run at the WTA Finals Riyadh, defeating Wimbledon champions Taylor Townsend and Katerina Siniakova 7-5, 6-3 to secure the doubles title. This victory marks their fourth team title and their second title of the 2024 WTA Tour season, following their win at the WTA 250 in Nottingham. The triumph also represents Dabrowski’s 16th career doubles title and Routliffe’s eighth.
Routliffe reflected on their success, sharing, “We’ve been through a lot this year, and we’ve always stuck by each other, committed to each other, and supported each other. So I think this is an accumulation of the entire year, and it means a lot.”
Sweet Revenge Against Top Opponents
This win is especially significant as Dabrowski and Routliffe avenged several previous losses to Townsend and Siniakova, including their defeats in the Wimbledon final and US Open. The pair also overcame their 2023 WTA Finals semifinal loss to Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Ellen Perez, and even saved a match point to edge out Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini in the group stage.
Decisive Moments in the Final
Dabrowski and Routliffe maintained a steady advantage throughout the first set. At 5-5, they broke Siniakova’s serve while she was attempting to force a tiebreak, capturing the set with three pivotal returns. In the second set, Townsend and Siniakova fought back to level at 3-3 after saving two break points, but Dabrowski and Routliffe ultimately seized control, winning the last three games to clinch the title.
Routliffe emphasized their focused approach: “I think they’re an amazing team and great from every position on the court. So, in those big moments, the big thing for us was to go out and take it—they weren’t going to give it to us. We tried to pep talk ourselves into being more aggressive in those key moments, and that was probably the difference-maker.”
Siniakova’s Milestone Season and Upcoming Billie Jean King Cup
Despite the loss, Siniakova has had an impressive year, capturing five doubles titles with five different partners, including at Roland Garros with Coco Gauff and at Wimbledon. Siniakova will finish as the Doubles World No. 1 for the fourth time. Now, Dabrowski, Siniakova, and Townsend head to Malaga, Spain, to represent their countries in the Billie Jean King Cup.
