New Zealand tennis player Erin Routliffe. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
New Zealand tennis player Erin Routliffe has had a far from ideal lead-up to Wimbledon with her regular doubles partner out with injury.
With Gaby Dabrowski out of action, Routliffe played tournaments with two other players, but with not a lot of success.
Canadian Dabrowski is now back and they go into Wimbledon as the second seeds, having made the final at the grass court grand slam last year.
World number three Routliffe has put the last month down to experience.
"It is always tough but it is part of the job with doubles as you can never control your partner," Routliffe told RNZ.
With Dabrowski out the 30-year-old Kiwi played tournaments with Belarusian Victoria Azarenka and Ukranian Lyudmyla Kichenok.
"I was lucky to play the last few weeks with different people, so it's been fine but happy to be back (with Dabrowski) for sure."
The pair won the 2023 US Open doubles title and in 2024 made the Australian Open semi-finals and the Wimbeldon final.
They finished 2024 by winning the WTA Finals in Riyadh.
They reached the Australian Open semi-finals again this year and combined to win the Stuttgart Open.
Erin Routliffe (NZL) talks tactics with doubles partner Gabriela Dabrowski (CAN), Wimbledon 2024. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Routliffe and Dabrowski played one match together in Germany before Wimbledon.
"You just need some time to get back in but we've been practising with a lot of other teams and we have our coaches here so it's been really nice."
Routliffe makes no predictions about the Wimbledon tournament.
"I have no idea, I go one match at a time."
However she is fond of the grass courts at the All England Club.
"I love it, it's one of the meccas of tennis, I love the grass, I love being here," Routliffe said.
"It's cool because if you're a tennis fan or not everyone knows Wimbledon and the history.
"It's an epic place and I'm excited to get going."
Routliffe and Dabrowski play a Chinese pair first up.
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