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Canadian Gabriela Dabrowski and doubles partner Xu Yifan have booked their place the doubles final of the Madrid Open. The duo breezed past Jelena Ostapenko and Vera Zvonareva 6-4, 6-4 in the semis to ensure they’ll face off against fifth-seed pairing Hsieh Su-wei and Barbora Strycova on Saturday.
The match didn’t start according to plan for Dabrowski and Xu, however, as they went down a break of serve as early as the third game of the first set. They fought back just three games later, though, manufacturing two break points, the second of which they took gladly.
INTO THE FINAL!@GabyDabrowski and Xu Yifan will play for the #MMOPEN trophy tomorrow, as they blast past Ostapenko/Zvonareva 6-4, 6-4.
It’ll be a shot at their second Premier Mandatory championship after claiming the crown at the Miami Open in 2017. #GoGaby
— Tennis Canada (@TennisCanada) May 10, 2019
They clinched the first set with a commanding break of serve when they were 5-4 up. Racing out to an unassailable 40-0 lead, Dabrowski and Xu made no mistake and pounced on the opportunity to turn the match in their favour.
The pair looked to be well on their way to sealing the victory when they went up a break early in the second set but Ostapenko and Zvonareva bounced back with a break of their own. Dabrowski and Xu were serving for the match but their opponents ended up winning the game comfortably.
Not intent on being denied victory, the Canadian and Chinese came out the very next game and engineered two match points on their rivals’ serve, the second of which they won to clinch their place in the final.
Feature photo: Madrid Open
