Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe continued their dominance at the WTA Finals in Riyadh on Friday, defeating Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Ellen Perez in straight sets of 7-6(7), 6-1 to advance to the final match.
With this victory, Dabrowski becomes the first Canadian to reach the final of the prestigious year-end tournament.
The second seeds won 78 percent of their first serves and made four of their 13 break chances to advance to their sixth final of 2024 and extend their perfect record this week.
Both teams struggled to find their rhythm at the start of the match. Indeed, four consecutive breaks were recorded before the players found their bearings.
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From 3-3, both teams won their service games to head into a tiebreaker. After trailing, the 2023 U.S. Open champions found their stride and won five of the next six points to give themselves a 6-5 lead. They realized their second set point thanks to a reflex half-volley from Routliffe.
Strong net play and excellent serves allowed Dabrowski and Routliffe to dominate their rivals in the second period.
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After Dabrowski won his serve at zero, the team broke Melichar-Martinez, then Routliffe consolidated to take a 3-0 lead. The Canadian and the New Zealander kept up the pressure to score another break before Routliffe sealed the outcome of the match on the first match point with a forehand winner.
This victory avenges their defeat last year against the opponents in the final four of the same tournament.
On Saturday, Dabrowski and Routliffe will try to win their first WTA Finals title.
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