New Zealand’s Erin Routliffe with doubles partner Gaby Dabrowski has won the US Open women’s doubles final.

Canada’s Routliffe and Dabrowski beat top-seeded pair Laura Siegemund of Germany and Vera Zvonareva of Russia 7-6 6-3 at Flushing Meadows.

The 28-year-old Routliffe became the first senior New Zealand player to reach the final of the US Open.

Routliffe’s share of the prize money – US$350,000 – from Monday’s win surpassed his career earnings to date.

The US Open is Routliffe and Dabrowski’s second tournament as a pair, having first played together five weeks ago in Montreal.

Routliffe and Dabrowski saved eight of the nine break points they faced in the match that lasted two hours and 14 minutes.

Siegemund and Zvonareva failed to convert any of their five break point chances in a tight first set that required a tiebreak.

A fast start in the tiebreak gave Dabrowski and Routliffe a 4-0 lead but Siegemund and Zvonareva fought back to make it 4-4, even getting a pair of set points, but it was the Canadian and New Zealander who sealed it in their fourth set. set point.

Dabrowski and Routliffe capitalized on that momentum in the second set where they quickly made a double break to take a 3-0 lead that paved their way as they went on another break as they closed out the match with their third championship point.

“He really took a chance on me and I really appreciate it,” an emotional Routliffe said of Dabrowski on the court after the game.

Dabrowski was also “grateful” to be able to share the court with Routliffe during what he called a difficult year for both players.

“I’m really proud of the way we’ve supported each other through thick and thin over the last two weeks,” Dabrowski said.

Siegemund and Zvonareva won the US Open women’s doubles title in 2020.