Routliffe, Dabrowski save match point for second win at WTA Finals

Erin Routliffe and Gaby Dabrowski have reached the semifinals of the WTA Finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with one more match to play.

On Tuesday the Kiwi/Canadian team saved a match point to defeat Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini 1-6 7-6(1) 11-9, in a pulsating round robin match.

The victory all but confirms Routliffe and Dabrowski will finish in the top two of the White Group and advance to the semifinals, even if they lose their final group match against Caroline Dolehide and Desirae Krawczyk on Thursday.

Errani and Paolini got off to a flying start, winning the first 14 points of the opening set and it came as some relief to Routliffe and Dabrowski when the Canadian put away a volley at the net to at last get her team on the board.

Momentum stayed with the Italians for the remainder of that set, but Routliffe and Dabrowski made adjustments to be competitive for the remainder of the match.

However, a break of serve late in the second set put Errani in a position to serve for the match at 6-5, but Routliffe and Dabrowski put pressure on the 37-year-old’s serve and they managed to get the break back.

After losing the first point in the tiebreak, Routliffe and Dabrowski won the next seven, to send the match to a third set super tiebreak.

In it, Routliffe had to save a match point on her serve, which she did by putting down a great serve to the body of Errani, that she couldn’t get back.

A short time later, Routliffe and Dabrowski had a match point Errani’s serve and a deep return by Dabrowski, which Errani couldn’t dig out from by her feet, secured the win.

"That was a really, really fighting match," said Routliffe afterwards. "I'm glad we put on a show for you guys, but I hope the next match won't be as exciting!"

Dabrowski said it was pleasing that they were able to fight back after a tough start for them.

"It was such a challenge to try to raise our level," Dabrowski said.

"To try to play against a team that plays a little bit differently than others, with Errani serve-and-volleying and stuff like that. 

“It’s kind of things that we do, but don't necessarily play against a lot. Pretty proud of us for the adjustments we made."