In a thrilling match on Day 1 of the GNP Seguros WTA Finals Cancun, the No.7 seeds Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe pulled off a major upset by defeating the top-seeded duo of Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula. The Canadian-New Zealand pair fought back from a 4-1 deficit in the first set to secure a 7-6(2), 6-3 victory in a match that lasted 1 hour and 25 minutes.
Dabrowski and Routliffe, who only started playing together this summer, have been in exceptional form, winning 13 of their last 16 matches. Their impressive performance puts them at the top of the Mahahual Group with a 1-0 record, while Gauff and Pegula start with a disappointing 0-1 record.
The other teams in the Mahahual Group, No.4 seeds Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova, and No.6 seeds Laura Siegemund and Vera Zvonareva, will surely be keeping a close eye on Dabrowski and Routliffe after their stunning upset.
Gauff and Pegula, who are currently ranked No.1 in the WTA doubles rankings, started the match strongly and even served for the first set at 5-4. However, a crucial double fault by Gauff gave Dabrowski and Routliffe their first break point, which they converted to level the set at 5-5. Despite Pegula saving three consecutive break points to hold for 6-5, Dabrowski and Routliffe held their nerve and forced a tiebreak. The Canadian-New Zealand pair dominated the tiebreak, winning the last four points in a row.
In the second set, Dabrowski and Routliffe built a commanding 5-1 lead. However, Gauff and Pegula fought back valiantly, narrowing the gap to 5-3 and even holding three break points on Routliffe’s serve. But Dabrowski and Routliffe remained composed and managed to close out the match, with Dabrowski hitting a winning backhand.
Earlier in the day, the No.3 seeds Shuko Aoyama and Ena Shibahara kicked off the WTA Finals by defeating the No.5 seeds Desirae Krawczyk and Demi Schuurs in straight sets. Aoyama and Shibahara saved 10 of 12 break points in their 7-5, 6-2 victory.
With this win, Aoyama and Shibahara take an early lead in the Maya Ka’an Group, while Krawczyk and Schuurs start with a 0-1 record. The Maya Ka’an Group also features No.2 seeds Storm Hunter and Elise Mertens, as well as No.8 seeds Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Ellen Perez.
Aoyama and Shibahara showcased their dominance from the beginning, taking a 3-1 lead in the first set. Although Krawczyk and Schuurs fought back to level the set at 5-5, Aoyama and Shibahara held their nerve and clinched the set with a winning volley by Aoyama. In the second set, the Japanese duo continued their strong performance, breaking serve at 5-2 and sealing the victory with a brilliant crosscourt winner by Shibahara.
This win adds to Aoyama and Shibahara’s head-to-head advantage over Krawczyk and Schuurs, making it their second victory over the American-Dutch pair this year. Aoyama and Shibahara previously defeated Krawczyk and Schuurs in the WTA 1000 Montreal final during the summer.
The GNP Seguros WTA Finals Cancun is off to an exciting start, with unexpected upsets and impressive performances. Tennis fans around the world will be eagerly following the action as the tournament unfolds.