Erin Routliffe (left) and Gabriela Dabrowski (right) won two US Open women’s doubles titles and the final WTA Finals in 2024. (AFP) NEW DELHI: Erin Routliffe was born in Auckland while her parents were on a sailing adventure around the world, with New Zealand as their base at the time. They stayed in the country for four years and had two more daughters before returning to their home in Ontario, Canada.Erin’s journey then took her to Montreal, at the National Training Center, and then to the University of Alabama, where she played college tennis.
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India’s BJK Cup team on tour loneliness, street food and social media abuseIn 2017, when she graduated and turned professional, she expressed a desire to switch allegiance to the country of her birth, despite having already played junior Grand Slams and a junior Fed Cup for Canada.Erin’s sister Tess, also born in Auckland, took the opposite route, winning a silver medal for Canada in the women’s 200m SM7 individual medley at the Rio 2016 Paralympics.“I was coming out of college wanting to play pro and the New Zealand FA was really supportive. And it was kind of like a fresh start for me, being able to play with a new team, new coaches, new everything. And to play the Billie Jean King Cup right away,” Erin explained her reasons to TimesofIndia.com.
Erin Routliffe represents New Zealand in the Billie Jean King Cup. (Instagram)
“I played my first match in 2017 right out of college. It was an amazing experience. And I’ve played almost every year since then. That’s probably why I transferred. Of course, I have a lot of ties to Canada and New Zealand. But I’m very happy to represent New Zealand and play in the Billie Jean King Cup,” she continued, referring to the team competition that used to be called the Fed Cup.Erin Routliffe won two titles at the US Open and the WTA Tour Finals with Canadian Gabriela Dabrowski. She would climb to the top of the doubles rankings in July 2024.After a mostly underwhelming career in singles – she reached a career high of 582nd in the world – she reaped the rewards of a “natural” doubles game.
Erin Routliffe is a two-time major champion and former world number one. (Instagram)
“I think I’ve always liked doubles a lot more. It felt a lot more natural. I liked having teammates. I like being able to celebrate with another person. I thought if I’m going to be one of the best, at the top of the game, it’s going to be in doubles.“During COVID, the tournament cap was a lot tighter. So my doubles ranking could get me into a lot of tournaments and my singles ranking didn’t get me there. So it was kind of a natural transition,” she reflected as she transitioned to a full-time doubles player.The 31-year-old admitted that the loneliness of the sport also played a role in the transition. The difference came in the form of Dabrowski and her team with the popular saying “it takes a village.”After a three-year partnership from 2023 to 2025, Routliffe split with Dabrowski at the start of the year to partner Asia Muhammad of the USA.
Erin Routliffe linked up with Asia Muhammed earlier in the year before the split. (Instagram)
Eight tournaments later, with their best showing in the quarterfinals at the Miami Open, they decided to go their separate ways. In Charleston, Routliffe paired with Jennifer Brady, who lost in the second round.“Some people play singles, so that’s why they don’t prefer it (doubles). When you play with someone, you do everything with them. You see them every day, all year. Sometimes things just end,” Routliffe said of the frequent partner changes.“I spoke to an older player who had been playing with her partner for eight years, which I thought was amazing. You don’t really see that anymore. “I think the men play a little longer, but they also rotate a lot. It’s just the way it is. I don’t know exactly why, but it’s definitely still interesting,” she continued.
There are many challenges. You obviously have to figure out how your playing styles fit together and then your personalities and being in high pressure situations
Erin Routliffe on changing partners during the season
What makes the whole process even more difficult is the change of partners during the season.“It’s really tough. There’s a lot of challenges. Obviously, you have to figure out how your playing styles fit together, and then your personalities and the high-pressure situations.”“I think the last five or six years that I’ve only been playing doubles, I’ve been switching partners a lot, obviously I’ve been playing with Gabby (Dabrowski) for almost three years.“It was consistent, but you kind of get used to playing with different partners all the time. If you want to be one of the best doubles players in the world, you have to be able to play with a lot of different people. Hopefully I can do that,” she added.
