Erin Routliffe putting partner uncertainty aside for Wimbledon

There are few tournaments Erin Routliffe looks forward to more than Wimbledon.

The New Zealand doubles star returns to the All England Club hoping to kickstart her season after several months of uncertainty, having played with six different partners since splitting with Asia Muhammad after the Miami Open in March.

This fortnight she teams up with Nicole Melichar-Martinez as the American’s regular partner, Christina Bucsa, is currently injured.

Despite the disruption, Routliffe remains optimistic about her game, although admits this has been a tough season for her.

“It’s been a rough one,” Routliffe said.

“I’ve been bopping around a lot of different partners, but I feel like I’m working really hard and playing really well, to be honest. So I’m just trusting the process and keeping my head down.”

Changing partners so regularly has been tricky for Routliffe. Although she briefly played with other partners while Gaby Dabrowski recovered from breast cancer a couple of years ago, it’s not a common occurrence for a doubles player of the Kiwi’s stature.

“It’s really hard, for sure, especially when before it was almost three years (with Gaby Dabrowski), and then before that I had, like, basically set people. It’s difficult for sure, but it is what it is. I always say, if you want to be one of the best doubles players in the world, you got to be able to play with everybody.”

There is no certainty over what comes after Wimbledon either.

Asked whether she expects to continue changing partners for the rest of the season, Routliffe admitted she simply does not know. Often, top doubles players commit to playing with the same partner for an entire season.

“I don’t know. I guess it depends on who’s looking,” Routliffe said. 

“It depends on what other people want. I don’t have any plans after this, so I’m not sure yet.”

As a former world No 1, Grand Slam champion and current world No 11, Routliffe hopes finding future partners won’t be difficult.

“I hope so. yeah. That helps as far as finding partners. We’ll see who’s looking, we’ll see who’s wanting to try, I guess.”

For now, though, all of her attention is on Wimbledon, a tournament that continues to hold a special place in her heart.

“It’s always amazing. I love playing here, it’s one of my favorite events of the year, so I’m just really excited, and it’s a feeling like no other. I feel like I say the same thing every year, but it’s really nice.”

Even after several appearances at the All England Club, including reaching the final in 2024, Routliffe still feels the occasion as soon as she arrives.

“It’s definitely different. Even if you’re not a tennis fan, you’re, if you’re a sports fan, everybody knows Wimbledon, so it’s nice. I really like it, obviously.”

Routliffe and Melichar-Martinez have been handed a tricky opening-round match on Friday, against Marta Kostyuk and Elena-Gabriela Ruse, a team she knows well.

“I’ve played them a few times. Gaby and I played them here two years ago in the round a 16. They’re a really great team, they play a lot of slams together, they always beat good teams, and they always play really well. So, we’ll do our thing, scout them, and I’m excited for a good match.”

Despite only playing two tournaments together in the build up to Wimbledon, Routliffe is confident they can challenge anyone in the draw.

“I think Nicole and I can win any match and beat the people in front of us,” she said. 

“So we’ll just try and do our thing each day. Scout and try to show up and compete as hard as we can, and play well together. 

“As far as the rest of the year goes, honestly, I haven’t even really thought about it, I’m just focused on this right now.”

Although doubles players have to wait until after the opening round of singles, at least, before their tournament begins, Routliffe says there is little opportunity to switch off at Wimbledon.

“You definitely feel like you’re part of a slam, you’re practicing a lot, you’re hustling for court time, you’re doing your gym, and all that stuff, and it’s still has that chaotic, hectic feeling, it’s definitely not relaxing,” she said. 

“If you can do your best to get away from the courts and relax wherever you’re staying, that’s like really important, because it’s such a long two weeks. But the buzz of a grand slam, it never gets old.”