Routliffe and Dabrowski go close in Toronto final

Erin Routliffe has again come agonisingly close to winning her maiden WTA 1000 tournament. 

On Monday (Tuesday NZ time), Routliffe and Gaby Dabrowski lost 7-6(2) 3-6 10-7 to the all-American team of Caroline Dolehide and Desirae Krawczyk in the final of the Toronto event.

It is the fourth time Routliffe has lost in a WTA 1000 final over her career, and the third time with Dabrowski. The other occasion was with Coco Gauff. 

Dolehide and Krawczyk were the No 3 seeds in Toronto and saved two match points in the first set and it was Routliffe and Dabrowski, the top seeds, who won five points more over the match, 73 to 68.

But Routliffe and Dabrowski weren’t quite able to grab enough of the big moments in the match that went for one hour, 47 minutes, as they won three of the 11 break points they had, although their opponents were only 2 from 8 in this department. 

Despite the loss, Routliffe has extended her lead over world No 2 Katerina Siniakova in the rankings, as her run will take her up to 8800 points, while Siniakova will be at 8385 when the rankings are next updated. Dabrowski will remain at No 3 in the world.

Routliffe will partner with the American Asia Muhammad at her next tournament in Cincinnati as Dabrowski isn’t playing.

Routliffe and Muhammad are the No 3 seeds at the WTA 1000 tournament and have a bye in the first round.