Ottawa's own Gabriela Dabrowski is back in the headlines after a standout run at Wimbledon this month, capped off by a moment she says she won't soon forget: meeting the Princess of Wales on Centre Court.
Dabrowski, who grew up playing tennis in the capital before rising through the ranks to become one of Canada's most accomplished doubles players, reached the women's doubles final at this year's tournament. Though she came up short in the final, finishing as runner-up, the trip to London delivered a moment that clearly meant more to her than any trophy.
A Shared Experience
Speaking with CBC Ottawa's All In A Day, guest-hosted by Elyse Skura, Dabrowski described what it was like to meet Catherine, Princess of Wales, at the All England Club. The two share an unexpected connection: the Princess of Wales revealed her own cancer diagnosis in 2024, and Dabrowski has been open about her own health battles in recent years. That shared experience, Dabrowski explained, made the brief exchange at Wimbledon feel far more personal than a typical royal handshake.
For an athlete who has spent her career grinding through Grand Slam qualifying draws and doubles brackets around the world, having that moment recognized on one of tennis's biggest stages was a highlight Dabrowski says she'll carry with her long after this Wimbledon run fades from the record books.
An Ottawa Story on the World Stage
Dabrowski's rise from the courts of Ottawa to the top of the doubles rankings has made her one of the city's most recognizable athletes internationally. She's a two-time Grand Slam doubles champion, and her continued success — even in a runner-up finish — keeps drawing attention back to the local tennis scene that first shaped her game.
Ottawa sports fans have followed her career closely for years, and her willingness to speak candidly about health struggles and now this meeting with the Princess of Wales adds another layer to a story that resonates well beyond the tennis world. It's the kind of moment that reminds the city just how far a local athlete can go — and how those journeys can intersect with global events in ways nobody could have predicted.
Dabrowski is expected to continue competing on the WTA doubles tour in the coming months, with Ottawa fans no doubt watching closely as she builds on this Wimbledon appearance.
Source: CBC Ottawa
