Fresh start at home for doubles star Erin Routliffe

After missing last year’s ASB Classic through injury, New Zealand doubles star Erin Routliffe returns to Auckland this week to begin a new chapter in her career.

She has a new long-term playing partner and a fresh sense of excitement about the season ahead.

“I always love starting the year here,” Routliffe said.

“I’m really happy to be back and able to play, especially as it’s been two years since I’ve played here.”

The Auckland tournament will mark the first official outing for Routliffe and American Asia Muhammad as a full-time pairing, following Routliffe’s split with Canadian Gaby Dabrowski at the end of 2025. While they know each other well off court, the partnership itself is still very much in its early stages.

The pair had limited preparation together during the off-season, juggling minor injuries.

“We had our coaches come and train with us for a little bit,” Routliffe said. 

“Other than that, dealing with some niggles and stuff. So we’ve been practicing together, but not like, a ton or anything like that. But enough. We know each other pretty well.”

That familiarity, however, does not mean instant perfection, but when they teamed up in August 2024, while Dabrowski was having treatment for breast cancer, they won the Cincinnati Open together, which was Routliffe’s first title at a WTA 1000 tournament.

She does think though that it will take time for her partnership with Muhammad to properly gel.

“It’s definitely a work in progress,” Routliffe said.“

With any partnership, if you’re planning on it being long term, you got to trust the process and do that. 

“Us playing in Cincinnati the first time, we did click pretty well there, but it’s a lot different when you’re playing with someone as, like a one week thing, rather than doing it full-time.”

Routliffe says she expects ups and downs as she and Muhammad settle in together.

“I think we’ll figure it out,” she said. 

“We’ll have good days, bad days, and I’m sure we’ll have to have some tough conversations, but hopefully they’ll be easier knowing that we know each other so well.”

Despite being one of the headline acts at the ASB Classic, with Kiwi tennis fans eager to see her in action, Routliffe says the attention is something she relishes rather than fears.

“Honestly, I don’t really feel pressure like that in a bad way. I feel it in a good way,” she said. 

“I think that if I’m feeling pressure, that’s what I’ve worked for my entire life. Being recognised a bit more here, it’s really exciting.”

That support, she believes, can lift both her and her partner.

“Having the fans behind me and us as a team, it’s going to be really fun and I love that. I’m just excited to get going.”

Routliffe arrives in Auckland still deeply in love with life on tour, despite its demands.

“I honestly do,” she said. “I’m so grateful to live this life and to be on tour and being able to do what I love, every single day.

“Tennis is so interesting because you always have a new opportunity in front of you,” she said. 

“But you also have to learn to be happy with what you’re achieving and what you’re doing.”

At the ASB Classic, Routliffe and Muhammad will open their campaign against Czech Jesika Maleckova and Mexico’s Renata Zarazua, beginning what Routliffe hopes is a long and successful partnership starting, fittingly, at home.