Ottawa has another reason to watch the U.S. Open closely this week. Gabriela Dabrowski, the tennis star who grew up in the capital, advanced to the women's doubles quarterfinals on Monday alongside her Brazilian partner Luisa Stefani.
A Hometown Favourite on the Big Stage
Dabrowski, who was born and raised in Ottawa, has long been one of the city's most recognizable athletes on the international tennis circuit. She got her start playing junior tennis locally before rising through the ranks to become one of Canada's most accomplished doubles specialists, with a Grand Slam title already on her resume from the 2017 French Open mixed doubles.
Her partnership with Stefani has proven to be a strong one this season, and Monday's win at Flushing Meadows keeps that momentum going. The pair took care of business to punch their ticket to the quarterfinal round, one of the sport's biggest stages.
Why Ottawa Is Watching
For Ottawa tennis fans, Dabrowski's success carries extra weight. She's part of a small but proud group of Ottawa-raised athletes who've made it to the top tier of professional sports, and her continued presence deep into Grand Slam tournaments gives the city's tennis community someone to rally behind every summer and fall.
Local tennis clubs and courts around the city, from Rideau Tennis Club to the public courts scattered through neighbourhoods like Westboro and the Glebe, often see a bump in interest when Dabrowski is doing well on tour. Coaches in the city have pointed to her career as an example for young Ottawa players hoping to go pro, showing that a path from local courts to Grand Slam quarterfinals is possible.
What's Next
With the quarterfinal win secured, Dabrowski and Stefani now turn their attention to the next round of the tournament, where they'll face another top pairing for a spot in the semifinals. Doubles play at the U.S. Open has been competitive this year, and advancing this far is no small feat.
Ottawa fans hoping to catch the action can follow the tournament's broadcast coverage as Dabrowski looks to add another deep U.S. Open run to her growing list of career highlights.
Source: CBC Ottawa
