Routliffe eyes doubles double at Australian Open

by · RNZ
New Zealand tennis player Erin Routliffe.Photo: PHOTOSPORT

New Zealand's Erin Routliffe will have two shots at Australian Open doubles glory after advancing to the women's and mixed semi-finals in Melbourne.

Routliffe and compatriot Michael Venus can qualify an all-New Zealand team for a grand slam doubles final for the first time if victorious in Wednesday's semi against Australian duo John Peers and Olivia Gadecki.

Routliffe, 29, will team up with Canadian women's doubles partner Gabby Dabrowski for their semi-final on Thursday or Friday as they seek to continue a remarkably consistent record at major tournaments.

Her first focus is the mixed competition, where her growing status as a doubles player was appreciated by Venus after Tuesday's 6-7 6-1 10-5 win over Argentina's Andres Molteni and American Asia Muhammad.

The 37-year-old said he let the side down early on.

Michael VenusPhoto: Photosport

"The first set wasn't ideal. There were a few double faults in that first game from me and I wasn't making many returns," Venus said.

"Then Erin managed to cheer me up after the first set and that kind of changed my outlook and perspective and I started playing a lot better.

"And Erin kept doing the things that she's been doing so it ended up quite well."

Venus has pedigree in grand slam doubles, having won the men's title with American Ryan Harrison at the 2017 French Open.

He has also reached mixed doubles finals three times, losing on each occasion: at the 2017 and 2019 US Opens - both with Chinese-Taipei's Chan Hao-ching - and the 2023 French Open, with Canadian Bianca Andreescu.

Meanwhile, Routliffe said she and Dabrowski were finding their groove following the 6-3 6-2 quarter-final defeat of Japan's Miyu Kato and Mexico's Renata Zarazua.

The New Zealander was relieved they won the first set for the first time at the tournament.

"That was our goal, we were happy to get on and off for our quickest match, it was really hot," she said.

"Every match we've been a little bit better.

"It was our cleanest match. We don't have many super-clean matches but that's because everyone is really good. We just try to fight in the big moments, stick together and be a team.

"I'm happy to be in two semis, I'm ecstatic, that's all I can say about it."

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