Erin Routliffe, Gabby Dabrowski reach first WTA 1000 final together

Erin Routliffe and Gabby Dabrowski are into their first WTA 1000 final together, following a sensational comeback in the semifinals of the Miami Open.

The tournament’s No 2 seeds defeated the American duo of Asia Muhammad and Alycia Parks 6-7 6-4 10-4 in a match that lasted 90 minutes.

Routliffe and Dabrowski lost the first set tiebreak 7-4 and were down a break early in the second, to find themselves in a not too strong a position.

However, the 2023 US Open champions dug deep to go on an unstoppable roll for the remainder of the set and send the match to a super tiebreak.

A ripper of a backhand down the line from Routliffe put her and Dabrowski up 4-2 at the first change of ends and that was the cue for the more experienced duo to stamp their authority on the match as they won three of the next four points.

At the second change of ends they were up 8-4 and on the next point an angled volley from Dabrowski set up a match point.

It was the only one they needed as the Canadian hit an outstanding return to book the team’s place in Monday’s final (NZ time).

Routliffe and Dabrowski will be going for their third title together, while it would be Routliffe’s sixth title of her career.

In the final, Routliffe and Dabrowski will play the winner of the match between the American team of Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Sofia Kenin and the Italian duo of Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini.

Mattek-Sands picked up a win against Routliffe at this year’s ASB Classic, although they both had different partners on that occasion.