US Open: New Zealand tennis players Erin Routliffe through to doubles final and Michael Venus into semifinals

Gabriela Dabrowski of Canada and partner Erin Routliffe of New Zealand celebrate their semifinal victory. Photo / Getty Images

One Kiwi in a US Open final and another one win away.

New Zealand’s Erin Routliffe and Canadian partner Gabriela Dabrowski have reached their second US Open final with a strong semifinal performance on centre court today.

The No 3 seeds were too strong for the Italian duo and French Open champions Jasmine Paolini and Sara Errani, taking out the semifinal 6-4, 6-3.

The 2023 winners will face top seeds Taylor Townsend and Katerina Siniakova in the final on Saturday NZT.

Routliffe and Dabrowski have dropped just one set in the tournament so far and came into the tournament as the form pairing having won the Cincinnati Open for the second straight year to record their third title of 2025.

It will be their third grand slam final as a duo, having lost in Wimbledon last year along with their US Open title the previous season.

“It’s been such a privilege to play so many high-quality matches over last few years and our progress as a team and the partnership is the thing we’re most proud of, so we hope that carries through to Friday,” Dabrowski said.

In the men’s draw, Kiwi Michael Venus and Indian partner Yuki Bhambri reached the semifinals with a 6-3, 6-7 (8), 6-3 win over 11th seeds Nikola Mektic and Rajeev Ram. They faced seven break points in the final game before closing out the match.

The pair have known each other for some time but only joined up on the court after Wimbledon, where Venus and Mektic made the semifinals.

“We’ve been friends for over 15 years and the timing was right to start playing together. I know I’m happy to be on the same side as him. I’ve faced him multiple times and I don’t want to be against him,” Bhambri said.

Venus added: “We have a great time on the court and off the court. We do lots of things together. It’s like we haven’t grown up in 15 years because we’re going go-karting and to the arcade. We’re both away from family and travelling, so it’s great to have someone you’re very close with, that you can do things with and still enjoy the time.”

It is the first time Venus has reached the semifinal stage of the US Open, while for Bhambri it will be his maiden appearance in the final four at any grand slam.