SportsTennis

Canada's Gaby Dabrowski overcomes cancer to win US Open doubles title

Rob Williams
Rob Williams
|
Sep 5 2025, 6:42 pm
Canada's Gaby Dabrowski overcomes cancer to win US Open doubles title
Tennis Canada

While we wait to see how Felix Auger-Aliassime fares in the US Open semi-final, another Canadian has already been crowned champion in New York.

Ottawa’s Gaby Dabrowski, along with partner Erin Routliffe, has won the US Open women’s doubles title. They lifted the championship trophy at Arthur Ashe Stadium, and they’ll soon receive a cheque for $1 million.

Routliffe, who represents New Zealand internationally, was born in Auckland but raised in Canada.

Entering the tournament as the No. 3 seed, Dabrowski and Routliffe upset the No. 1-seeded team of American Taylor Townsend and Katerina Siniakova of Czechia (6-4, 6-4).

This is the 20th career doubles title and the second Grand Slam championship for Dabrowski, who also won the US Open with Routliffe two years ago.

The win has to be extra satisfying for Dabrowski, given what she has been through in the last year.

The 33-year-old was diagnosed with breast cancer in April last yearĀ and underwent two surgeries, radiation, and endocrine therapy.

ā€œThe preliminary results came back that day: cancer,ā€ Dabrowski said last year. ā€œThese are words you never expect to hear, and in an instant, your life or the life of a loved one turns upside down.ā€

Remarkably, Dabrowski was able to win a medal for Canada at the Olympic Games just four months after her cancer diagnosis — securing bronze in mixed doubles alongside Auger-Aliassime.

And now she’s a two-time US Open women’s doubles champ.

“Erin, what a wild ride,” Dabrowski said to her doubles partner during the post-match interview. “It’s been absolutely crazy. We’ve been through so much together… Thank you for sticking by me, thank you for the support.”

Dabrowski said late last year that she now has a “better grasp” of her cancer treatment and how to manage the side effects.

“Please know I am fully aware of how lucky I am as well, because many do not get the luxury of being able to tell their story at all,ā€ she said.

Dabrowski added that the cancer diagnosis was a catalyst for “more sustained change” in her life.

“When the threat of losing everything Iā€™d worked for my entire life became a real possibility, only then did I begin to authentically appreciate what I had: loving parents and friends, amazing coaches, a doubles partner who stuck by me, a real team, access to health care experts, and to play a game for a living.”

ADVERTISEMENT