Rebirth after cancer, Dabrowski's fairy tale in Flushing

In September in New York, under the radiant sun at Flushing Meadows Park, the honor of a new women's doubles champion was celebrated. The third-seeded pair, Dabrowski and Lutrief, claimed the title once more at Arthur Ashe Stadium after a two-year gap. They triumphed over the top seeds Siniakova and Townsend with a 6-4, 6-4 victory in the early morning women's doubles final, securing the $1 million winner's purse.

Over the past two years, Dabrowski and Lutrief have built a record rivaling any top women's doubles team, an achievement made even more remarkable by overcoming unexpected challenges—most notably Dabrowski's battle with breast cancer last year. On the final day of 2024, Dabrowski shared on her personal social media the story of her more than six-month fight against breast cancer: In April 2024, the Canadian was diagnosed with breast cancer, a sudden blow that turned her life upside down. During the second half of the season, she underwent two surgeries and received radiation and endocrine therapy. Only after overcoming the illness did Dabrowski choose to reveal this difficult journey, earning respect from fellow tour players and blessings from fans alike.

"This journey has been absolutely incredible," Dabrowski reflected at the award ceremony. "We've been through so much together, and standing here with you today as champions fills me with gratitude. This honor means everything to me."

The 33-year-old Canadian star openly admitted how the illness transformed her mentally and deepened her appreciation for health. "It's a completely different perspective; I truly understand the value of good health now," Dabrowski said. "Tennis is no longer a task I must complete. Even if I retire tomorrow, I am grateful for my career, the friendships I've made, and all the relationships built over the years. My heart is very content, so any achievement now feels like an extra gift from life."

As a leading doubles specialist in women's tennis today, Dabrowski's style is distinctive. She possesses excellent tactical awareness and consistent shot-making, dominating both at the net and from the baseline. Given the faster pace of doubles matches, Dabrowski opts for the YONEX VCORE 100 racket, which features a larger head and greater forgiveness. This racket helps her strike the perfect balance between powerful offense and stable control.

Throughout her more than ten-year professional tennis career, Dabrowski has claimed two Flushing Meadows women's doubles titles, as well as mixed doubles championships at Melbourne and Roland Garros. She has won a total of 20 WTA doubles titles, including last year's WTA Finals championship and five WTA 1000-level tournaments. Currently, Dabrowski and Lutrief have essentially secured their spot for this year's WTA Finals, where they will compete as defending champions in Riyadh.

(Written and edited by Wang Fei; Photos by Visual China)