WHAT HAPPENED: No. 3 seeds Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe upset the US Open No. 1 seed, Taylor Townsend and Katerina Siniakova, on Friday to win their second US Open as a pair, 6-4, 6-4, to go with their 2023 title at Flushing Meadows.
In a rematch of the 2024 Wimbledon final, Dabrowski and Routliffe took a 4-2 lead in the first set by seizing their first break point on Siniakova’s serve. In the next game, the Canadian-Kiwi duo saved two break points to increase their lead, 5-2. Routliffe served for the set in the next game, saved triple break point, but lost the fourth break point to Townsend and Siniakova to allow the American-Czech pair back into the match. In the end, though, Dabrowski and Routiffe won the set, 6-4, on their opponents’ serve when Townsend sent a volley long on the second set point.
In the second set, Dabrowski and Routliffe took a quick 3-0 lead over the 2025 Australian Open champions. Townsend and Siniakova rallied back to tie it 3-all on Townsend’s serve. In a pivotal eighth game that went to six deuces, Siniakova held serve to bring the match to a 4-4 tie. Dabrowski held, putting all the pressure on Townsend’s serve to prevent losing in straight sets. Townsend double faulted twice, and at match point, sent a groundstroke long to cede the game, set, match, 6-4.
Routliffe said, “They've had an incredible year, so we knew that we had to bring it today. I think we did a pretty good job of that.”
Townsend agreed, saying over a Honey Deuce in the interview room, “They played the big points better,” pointing out that the roof over Arthur Ashe Stadium was closed during warm-up, then opened for the match, and cast a shadow that cut the court in half. “It was hard to pick up the ball coming from certain directions, and it was very quick adjustments that we had to make when we changed sides.”
Despite the loss, Townsend said, “I'm just really proud. It can be sometimes overwhelming when you want to win so badly, but ultimately, I feel like I've already won no matter what the result was. We gave it everything, and that's all that matters. We'll have other shots.”
WHAT IT MEANS: In 2023, Dabrowski and Routliffe teamed up for the first time and won the 2023 US Open women’s doubles title in just their fourth event together. The 2025 US Open marked their third Grand Slam women’s doubles final as a pair, after the 2023 US Open (where they beat Laura Siegemund and Vera Zvonareva in the final) and 2024 Wimbledon (where they lost the final to Townsend and Siniakova).
MATCH POINT: With Friday’s win, Routliffe and Dabrowski will now move to No. 3 and No. 4, respectively, in the women’s doubles world ranking (behind No. 1, Townsend, and No. 2, Siniakova).The past 18 months hadn’t been easy for the champions. “Cancer [for me], broken ribs for both of us,” Dabrowski explained. “It was crazy, honestly. I'm really proud of us. It was not easy, but I think we've shown that even if we don't have a consistent schedule…. We can still bring a really high level, which is awesome. That's a testament to our work ethic and everything that we put in on court and off the court, with each other as friends, to keep the chemistry going.”
