New Zealand tennis player Erin Routliffe. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
A spectacular three months is set to propel New Zealand tennis player Erin Routliffe towards one of her career goals.
Routliffe and Canadian partner Gaby Dabrowski compete in the WTA Finals in Cancun, Mexico this week where the top eight ranked singles players and doubles combinations play for season-ending bragging rights.
The pair qualified for the tournament by winning three WTA titles in the last couple of months including the US Open.
Their achievements are even more remarkable by the fact that they've only been together since August and their first tournament together was the US Open.
The 28-year-old admits it had been a tough year up until then.
"I felt I'd been playing well but it wasn't coming together and I'd suffered a lot of loses. It was a similar situation for Gaby," Routliffe told RNZ.
However, there is obviously some chemistry there and it's helped by good communication.
"We just have an open space for us to feel how we feel and say whatever we need to say at all times.
"There are so many tough moments in tennis and especially in doubles where you really have to stick together and the only way to do that is to have those conversations."
Routliffe was born in Auckland while her parents were on an around the world sailing adventure. They moved back to Canada when she was four.
She came though the tennis ranks there but in 2017 decided to switch her allegiance to New Zealand with the Olympics in mind.
"When I switched from Canada to play for New Zealand that was one of the main goals I had, so I've definitely been thinking about it and so it's nice that it's getting closer."
New Zealand's Erin Routliffe and Canada's Gabriela Dabrowski in action at the 2023 US Open. Photo: AFP
Routliffe currently has a doubles ranking of 12 and cracking the top ten would put her in a good place to gain an Olympic qualifying spot.
She would then probably need help from the Oceania Federation to get a spot in Paris, given that she would need to pair up with a New Zealand player, who would have a considerably lower ranking.
A good result at the WTA Finals would help.
Routliffe and Dabrowski are ranked seventh heading into the tournament and the Canadian Kiwi said they felt they could do well.
"We've had success recently and we're confident in each other and we're trying to stay focussed on the process.
"I think we can beat anyone when we play together and focus on ourselves."
Whether they decide to stay together is not something they're thinking about at the moment, but Routliffe can see them having a long term partnership.
"The situation is always changing but I think we are good together and if we commit to each other then we can have more success together."
She does admit that she'll be eternally grateful to Dabrowski, who was ranked a lot higher than her when they got together.
"I'm grateful that Gaby took a chance with me and she's been really supportive."
The WTA Finals singles and doubles draws are split into two groups, which then play a round-robin series with the top two from each group qualifying for the semi-finals.
The prize pool for the WTA Finals is $15 million.