Ottawa’s Gabriela Dabrowski wins U.S. Open women’s doubles title

Canada’s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe are U.S. Open women’s doubles champions for the second time in three years.

They defeated top-seeded American Taylor Townsend and Czechia’s Katerina Siniakova 6-4, 6-4 in Friday’s final.

Dabrowski is an Ottawa native, while Routliffe, a dual citizen who represents her native New Zealand internationally, lives in Montreal.

They converted their first break opportunity in the first set and broke their opponents’ serve again to close out the match.

Dabrowski and Routliffe were seeded third at the Grand Slam event.

In 2024, Dabrowski faced and overcame a breast cancer diagnosis, all while continuing to compete at the highest level.

“Gabriela Dabrowski is a three-time Grand Slam tennis champion, an ambassador for Canadian sport, and one of Ottawa’s most accomplished athletes,” Ottawa Mayor Sutcliffe said in a previous press release.

Dabrowski grew up in the Blossom Park neighbourhood. She started playing tennis at the age of seven and, quickly realizing her potential, began training at the Ottawa Athletic Club under coach Tony Milo. She quickly rose through the ranks, winning everything from local tournaments to contests on the provincial, national and even international stage.

Gabriela Dabrowski honoured by City of Ottawa

In July, Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe presented the Key to the City to Dabrowski at a ceremony at Ottawa City Hall to recognize “her outstanding athletic achievements and her remarkable contributions to sport in Ottawa, across Canada, and on the international stage.”

Beginning her professional career around 2006, Dabrowski went on to compete in three Wimbeldon matches and to take the court at the U.S. Open in New York. She has won two singles titles in Nashville and Toronto and captured 17 women’s doubles titles on the Women’s Tennis Association Tour.

“She is also an incredibly inspiring person, a cancer survivor, and a terrific role model. I’m so proud to present Gaby with the Key to the City in recognition of everything she has accomplished on and off the court. It’s a thrill to welcome her back to Ottawa and present her with our city’s highest honour,” Sutcliffe said.