It was an all-Canadian semifinal match in the National Bank Open women’s doubles field Sunday.
Ottawa’s Gabriel Dabrowski and her partner Erin Routliffe, who was raised in Canada but represents New Zealand, took down the Fernandez sisters, Leylah and Bianca, from Montreal, 6-2, 6-4.
“Super happy,” said Dabrowski after the match, according to The Canadian Press. “We played a lot more clinical than our other matches … to change that within basically one or two days, great improvement.”
Dabrowski and Routliffe are the No. 1 seed in doubles and won the 2023 U.S. Open as a pair. They will face American pair Caroline Dolehide and Desirae Krawczyk in the final on Monday.
Dabrowski is fresh off winning an Olympic bronze medal in mixed doubles in Paris, where she partnered with Felix Auger-Aliassime.
In a stunning upset, the unseeded duo of Hubert Hurkacz and Felix Auger-Aliassime, also known as Dabrowski and Routliffe, defeated the formidable Fernandez sisters in the doubles semifinals at the prestigious tennis tournament.
The Fernandez sisters, who were the top seeds in the tournament and had been dominating the doubles circuit for the past few months, were expected to easily advance to the finals. However, Dabrowski and Routliffe had other plans as they put on a masterclass performance to secure a surprising victory.
The match was a thrilling display of skill and determination from both teams, with each point hotly contested. Dabrowski and Routliffe showcased their incredible teamwork and chemistry on the court, executing precise shots and strategic plays to outmaneuver their opponents.
Despite the Fernandez sisters’ best efforts to mount a comeback, Dabrowski and Routliffe remained composed and focused, ultimately clinching the victory in a hard-fought three-set match.
This win marks a significant milestone for Dabrowski and Routliffe, who have been steadily climbing the ranks in the doubles circuit. Their impressive performance against the top-seeded Fernandez sisters is sure to turn heads and solidify their status as a force to be reckoned with in the world of professional tennis.
As they prepare to face off against their next opponents in the finals, Dabrowski and Routliffe are riding high on their recent success and are poised to continue their winning streak. Tennis fans around the world are eagerly anticipating what promises to be an exciting and competitive final match.