Canada's Gabriela Dabrowski, right, reacts with partner Erin Routliffe of New Zealand during their women's doubles semifinal in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Jan. 24, 2025. (AP Photo)
Gabriela Dabrowski’s Wimbledon journey came to a close Tuesday, marking the end of Canadian participation at this year’s tournament. Teaming up with New Zealand’s Erin Routliffe, the duo lost their women’s doubles quarterfinal match in straight sets to Elise Mertens of Belgium and Veronika Kudermetova of Russia.
The eighth-seeded pair edged out Dabrowski and Routliffe 7-5, 7-6 (4), capitalizing on two of three break point opportunities. The match stayed tight, but the No. 2 seeds couldn't break through when it mattered most.
Mertens and Kudermetova also dominated on serve, hitting seven aces to their opponents’ two—a small but telling stat in a match that came down to key points.
This defeat is especially disappointing given Dabrowski and Routliffe’s past success. Just last year, the duo reached the Wimbledon final and went on to win the U.S. Open together. But this time, their campaign fell short of another title shot.
For Dabrowski, Wimbledon has been a mix of highs and near-misses. She also made the women’s doubles final in 2019 with China’s Xu Yifan but has yet to lift the trophy at the All England Club.
At 33, the Ottawa-born athlete remains one of Canada’s most accomplished doubles players. However, her exit means there are now no Canadians left in the tournament.
In fact, none of the six Canadians in the singles draws made it past the second round this year—an early exit for a nation that’s had strong tennis showings in recent seasons.
Though the Canadian flag is no longer flying at Wimbledon this week, Dabrowski's consistent presence in later rounds reminds fans of her top-tier talent. With the U.S. Open just weeks away, the 2023 champs will be aiming to bounce back.
For now, Canada’s Wimbledon hopes will have to wait another year.
