(London) Ottawa’s Gabriela Dabrowski and her New Zealand playing partner Erin Routliffe just missed out on their bid to win a second Grand Slam title together.
Czech Katerina Siniakova and American Taylor Townsend beat them 7-6 (5), 7-6 (1) in the final of the women’s doubles tournament at Wimbledon on Saturday.
Fourth-seeded Siniakova and Townsend dominated the second tiebreaker. The match ended on the third double fault of the match by second-seeded Dabrowski and Routliffe.
PHOTO MATTHEW CHILDS, REUTERS
Taylor Townsend and Katerina Siniakova
Dabrowski and Routliffe were the weakest on serve during the match, but they saved eight break points. They converted one of their four chances against Siniakova and Townsend.
It is Siniakova’s ninth major doubles title and Townsend’s first. Siniakova has won seven with compatriot Barbora Krejcikova, who won the women’s singles title earlier Saturday.
Dabrowski and Routliffe, who previously represented Canada before starting with New Zealand, triumphed at the US Open last year.
Despite the loss, the duo have had a stellar grass-court season, going 12-3 on the surface and reaching the finals of three tournaments. They won the top honours last month in Nottingham.