Erin Routliffe Into Toronto Final + Lulu Sun Off To Winning Start

Erin Routliffe and Gaby Dabrowski are into the final of a WTA 1000 tournament together for the third time.

On Sunday (NZ time) in Toronto they defeated the Canadian Fernandez sisters, Leylah and Bianca 6-2 6-4 and in the final they will go up against the all-American team of Caroline Dolehide and Desirae Krawczyk, who are the tournament’s No 3 seeds.

Routliffe and Dabrowski are the top seeds, and their win over the Fernandez sisters was the first time during this tournament where they were able to win in straight sets.

Because of this run in Toronto, Routliffe will extend the gap between herself and everyone else in the battle to be world No 1, while if they win the final Dabrowski will move ahead of Katerina Siniakova to be ranked No 2 in the world.

Routliffe has appeared in four WTA 1000 finals before, three with Dabrowski and one the Coco Gauff and is still searching for her first title at this level.

Meanwhile, Lulu Sun had advanced to the second round of qualifying at the WTA 1000 tournament in Cincinnati.

In her first round match she accounted for America’s Shelby Rogers 6-3 6-0, breaking her opponent’s serve on five occasions.

For a place in the main draw Sun will play Lucia Bronzetti from Italy. Sun is ranked 54 in the world, while Bronzetti is at 64.

Over the last 12 months Sun has come through qualifying at a WTA tournament four times from seven attempts.