Why Routliffe and Dabrowski work so well together

Erin Routliffe and Gaby Dabrowski have been playing together for long enough now to know they’re a combination that works. 

But as well as how well their games are suited to each other, there’s a special chemistry between them that is also making a difference.

Routliffe and Dabrowski are into the third round of the Australian Open, but won’t play that match until Sunday at the earliest, as there are second round matches that still need to be played. 

Since teaming up together in August 2023, they’ve made it to at least the quarterfinals in every grand slam they’ve played in together. But while, they’ve clicked as a partnership, they’re also very different as a team. 

Routliffe is often on an emotional roller coaster in matches, showing her frustrations when playing a bad shot, but also yelling out at the top of her voice ‘let’s go!’ When she hits a great winner. 

Dabrowski is more of a calming influence on court, keeping her emotions in check.

But Routliffe says this is just the way she is.

“It's one of my superpowers,” Routliffe said. 

"I kind of play better when I'm angry. [against Anna Siskova and Maia Lumsden in the second round] I didn't play that well. 

“But it's like a slippery slope, you can go each way. 

“I think everyone would be worried if I was very quiet either way. It's not really my shtick, “Obviously, not ideal to be having negative self talk. But what can you do?”

Dabrowski says there was a time when she was like Routliffe, but she was able to change that. 

“I know the emotion all too well,” Dabrowski said. 

“I would say, only in the last couple of years have I been kinder to myself. 

“I used to be really hard on myself, and what Erin is saying, it's so deeply ingrained to have such high expectations and high standards for yourself. 

“But sometimes you can get in your own way and accidentally self sabotage a situation by being too hard on yourself.

Dabrowski feels there’s a balance to be found with on court emotions, it’s good to use them to bring your level up, but you also need to make sure this doesn't drain you. 

“I think it's really tricky to manage when you care a lot,” she said. 

“We're here to win, we’re here to play well, we want to perform, we want to feel good, we want to win with conviction. 

“But so many different variables can affect those kinds of outcomes. 

“So it's normal to be frustrated, especially when you're in a different position than we've been in in a long time, which is having an extended break, not having a normal pre season, not playing any lead in events into a slam.” 

She can understands why Routliffe is how she is and she tries to be a good partner.

“I completely get the frustration, so I just try to be as supportive as I can, because I feel it too,” she said. 

“I know what it's like to want to play well and feel like you're missing by just a little bit here and there, and you can't quite get to the level you want. 

“I just try to, I guess, ride the waves, and I know that we're going to come out with some highs, so I just try to capitalise when they come.”