Doubles Only Tennis Podcast

The Mental Game, Lessons from Coaches, & Drinking Contests with 2025 USO Champs Erin Routliffe & Gaby Dabrowski

• Will Boucek • Episode 254

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0:00 | 55:09

2025 US Open Champions, Gaby Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe, take us behind the scenes of their incredible run, sharing details about their mental approach, the dynamics of their successful partnership, and their victory celebration in New York.

  • How many days did they take off after winning the US Open?
  • How to come back after losing the first set 0-6
  • Developing belief as players who don't naturally possess unwavering confidence
  • Finding the perfect balance between high energy and mental focus during crucial moments
  • Learning to embrace pressure rather than trying to mitigate it
  • The technical breakthrough of understanding the serve and volley as one fluid motion
  • Navigating the challenges of blending different personalities in their "marriage-like" partnership
  • Adopting a mindset of unconditional support for each other during difficult moments
  • How smiling helps Gaby in high-pressure situations

I was also able to get to many of your questions from Instagram and Twitter/X. This is a long and fun conversation. Enjoy!

Learn more about Erin & follow:

Learn more about Gaby & follow:

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Meet the 2023 US Open Champions

Speaker 1

You're about to hear my conversation with the 2025 US Open champions , gabby Dabrowski and Aaron Routliff . This is a really fun , really long and in-depth conversation about their run in New York . I spoke with them about a week and a half after they won the finals at the US Open . We talked about their quarterfinal match , where they lost the first set , 0-6 , and how they dug themselves out of that . We talked about the semifinals and finals and what clicked so well and led them to victories over two of the top teams in the world in straight sets .

Speaker 1

And we dove really deep into the mental side of the game , which is a topic that I don't talk a lot about on the podcast . The game , which is a topic that I don't talk a lot about on the podcast , but Gabby and Aaron both do a really good job of articulating what they feel on the court in certain situations and how to find that balance between high energy and mental focus . We also talked about the serve and volley , playing against double specialists versus single stars . We talked about drinking contests . We talk about their dream sponsorships and challenges that they've had over the years in their doubles partnership and a lot more . So , without further delay , enjoy this really long , really fun conversation with Gabby Dabrowski and Aaron Routliff . Hey everyone , welcome to the show . Today we have Gabby Dabrowski and Aaron Routliff on the 2025 US Open Champions . Welcome , y'all .

Speaker 2

Thank you , thank you .

Speaker 1

So I wanted to start with y'all won about a week and a half ago and I'm sure on other podcasts and platforms , including social media , people are able to follow how you prepare for a tournament and then what all is going on during the tournament . What happens in the week and a half after winning the US Open .

Speaker 3

That's funny . Go for it , Gobs .

Speaker 2

Me Okay . Well , I stayed new york two extra days over the weekend with my best friend and her mom and my mom , so that was really nice . And then I went to ottawa for a couple days , where I'm from , and then to toronto for a few days and now I'm back in Tampa , back training , back into the routine .

Speaker 1

So so more travel , it sounds like , but a little bit of off time yes , yes how many days did you not play tennis after the finals ?

Speaker 2

uh question eight eight days .

Speaker 1

What about you , aaron ?

Speaker 3

yeah , I'm just calculate nine . I started today nice okay , there you go and ?

Speaker 1

and , aaron , what would you do after ? Uh , the finals for the last week and a half .

Speaker 3

So I stayed in New York one extra day with my best friend as well , and then we

Post-Championship Celebrations

Speaker 3

drove . She lives on the Canadian border of Buffalo , so we drove up . It was like a six-hour drive , seven-hour drive . I stayed with her and her husband and her baby for like two days , or two days , three days , something like that , three or four days . Then I wait , what did ? I , yeah , and then God , it's all blur . So much trouble , but I saw more family hung out with them to just like relax a little bit . And then I actually flew to Chicago this past weekend to go to my um cousin's wedding , which was super fun because I didn't think I was going to get to do that . So it was really nice because we won , we didn't go to Seoul so I could do that , which is nice because we always miss things like that . Um . And then I flew to Vancouver yesterday because my boyfriend lives here , so I'm seeing him for a week before we go to beijing awesome .

Speaker 1

So eight and nine days off and sounds like some good friends and family time . Um , another non-tennis related question , and then we'll dive into tennis . Um so in cincinnati I did a podcast with dan and a few days later y'all won the tournament . In new york , I did a podcast with Dan and a few days later y'all won the tournament in New York . I did a podcast with Bruce and a few days later y'all won the tournament . They're not on today with us , but I was curious which one of them would win a champagne drinking contest .

Speaker 3

That's so easy Dan .

Speaker 2

Dan by far , like it won't even be close . It wouldn't even be close . I think he did win . I think he won . He won the champagne drinking contest .

Speaker 3

We had one . He is the champion .

Speaker 1

Alright , Bruce has some training to do . It sounds like .

Speaker 3

Yeah , bruce needs to buck up .

Speaker 1

Like I'd have to bully him to like do something like that . Um , so I want to go to the us , back to the us open . So the quarterfinal match um , it was on stadium 17 . I was sitting back behind the baseline watching that match and y kind of put themselves in the players' shoes and they say things sometimes that I feel like aren't necessarily accurate , like , oh , the pressure got to them and I'm like , well , we don't know that , maybe they just happened to miss that backhand , because players miss backhands . You know , it may not be because they got nervous , but when I was texting with my friend during this match , I said it seems like their energy is a little low . I think it'll probably go to a third set because I think they'll figure this out . Was that accurate and how did you turn that match around ?

Speaker 3

I think that was definitely pretty accurate . Think our um , but also , at the same time , like I think our energy was down , maybe because we lost some close like um at the very beginning . Honestly , they started really well , like they had done their homework , um , and they were clearly doing some set plays that were making us really uncomfortable . I think , um , and in turn , obviously , you're in quarters of a slam . You know the moment there that it's a big moment and you're whatever feeling , all the things , and when they're that feeling that you can't really recreate it of like your opponent , when you feel like they can do nothing wrong it .

Speaker 3

I hadn't had that feeling in a while and I do feel like that is one of those moments where for a couple games there , they really it felt like anyway , they could do nothing wrong , and in that moment you're kind of like , well , what please do we do ? Like we go back to our basics , but I think , yeah , our basics were working at the end of the match , but right then our basics weren't really working , like we had to do something a little bit better . Um , and then also , obviously , your energy , because you're like , well , we haven't won a game yet , so no , I don't know , I don't know a single player on tour that's like gonna have really good energy when they're down like four zero . But um , yeah , I

The Quarterfinal Comeback Story

Speaker 3

would say that's definitely accurate . I don't know , guy probably has like similar , a little bit of a different perspective .

Speaker 2

No , I do feel like the energy was lower , but , like Erin said , they started lights out and very strong and we were not quite at our best , I would say . So even we were down five love , though I thought to myself , well , we came back from five love in Cincinnati in the first round so I was like , well , maybe there's still a shot , We'll see . So I was kind of already starting to like gear up for there to be an energy shift , and I mean it , it that did happen . We started the second set a little bit better . There was an opportunity for them , I think , to go up a break , but we saved it . And then I think from then on it was just like close but good , and we were getting better and better and their level was dropping a little bit as the games went on and yeah , so I think your assessment is accurate um , yeah , so I I think your assessment is is accurate .

Speaker 1

How , what do you , what's the like talk between yourselves , uh , and then also with just the team in general ? I don't know if there's a lot of like communication with the coaches at the time when a team is playing kind of lights out like that , like you said , aaron . Um , how do you , what do you tell yourself in a moment like that ?

Speaker 3

Um , yeah , I think it's like kind of a balance between the way you're feeling and what you're saying to yourself . They're kind of three balances it's what you're saying to yourself , and there's what Gabby and I are talking about , what we're saying to each other , and then there's what the coaches are saying to us , and also us individually , because we both , you know , have different perspectives , different games , blah , blah , blah . So , um , I don't know really what I was saying to myself , but I think , um , we did have one combo where I was like they're , you know , they're playing really well . That has been really close , similar to like in cincinnati , where it's like we're down five zero and we were like well , what do we think ? And it's like , well , I mean , we've just lost a couple . In that sense it was like deuce points .

Speaker 3

And on this one is maybe it's like more in , add out kind of vibes where the games are closer . But I think , you know , we just try to support each other and try to be as present moment Cause that's the the reason why you're feeling those feelings . I think it's because you're thinking like of the future , like losing the match , so we try to like remind ourselves that we're still in it and we're still very much there and things can switch really quickly , cause I think it's like a spiral situation where you you don't feel like it can switch really quickly cause you're on the other end of it , but it really can . It's crazy how many matches you watch where it's like all of a sudden , one point and the whole match is completely turned around , which I think is what happened in that match for us .

Speaker 2

At that point that gabby was talking about um , but yeah , you just try to talk yourself off a ledge a little bit anything to add gabby um , no , I mean in that match in particular , I remember Dan saying something to me like come on , guys , like trying to bring up our energy , and then you know you can win this match . And I turned to him and I was like I know , like a bit sassy and because in my head it wasn't about can we win or can we win , yeah , are we going to win ? Are we not going to ? Like it wasn't . I believe that we can win , like every match that we play , but we weren't acting like it at the time , I guess , or maybe it didn't seem like that to everyone on the outside , because sometimes what we feel on the court is different than other people are seeing happen too . So sometimes our coaches like to kind of shake us a bit , I think , and sometimes that can be really helpful when maybe we're internalizing a little bit .

Speaker 1

So I want to go back to a comment you just said , because that is something that came up through one of the Instagram questions . You said I believe we can win every match that we play questions . You said I believe we can win every match that we play . Is that something you've always had and if not , how has that developed over time , or over your career , I guess ?

Speaker 2

Definitely definitely not . I don't inherently have a lot of belief . I'm a little bit more of like imposter syndrome towards that side of things . But at the same time , in the last few years I would say , certainly having results at the highest level in doubles provides evidence for why you should believe in yourself , and I am an evidence based person . But at the same time I also think that sometimes like a blind faith in sport is like really helpful too , and being a little bit delusional about how good you can be .

Speaker 2

There are tons of players in tennis that I would have never thought would amount to anything and they became like major champions . So I think you just never know . So why not have some faith in yourself ? And now , with the results that we've had , I think they speak for themselves . So any match that we play , I know we have the capability of winning and if we're at our best , then our opponents are going to have to bring pretty close to their best to be able to beat us , and I take that as a huge positive . And yeah so , but yeah , it's definitely didn't come naturally to me for a long time , that's for sure .

Speaker 1

Aaron , what about for you ? Is belief something that you've had to develop over time , or do you feel like you've had a little bit of that kind of I guess the word Gabby used was like delusional side maybe when you were younger too , or how has that worked for you ?

Speaker 3

No , I think I'm similar to Gabby in that sense where I I don't have that inherent like oh , you , you know , deserve to win these matches , or like you deserve good things , or that like sense of like , almost I don't want to say entitlement , but it isn't like a sense where you think that belief . I think now , like she said , like the results speak for themselves . I think that when I was maybe a junior and maybe in college , I was like , um , oh well , as a junior I was delusional , let's be real . Um , but in college , but I definitely like believe that I was , like , you know , a good tennis player and good results will come . And I think , after when I was playing pro after school , just having such a tough time and not winning that much and going through all those hard the grind , the tennis grind that everyone talks about , that I definitely I was like okay , well , I'm good , but everyone's good , and like it's not about being good , it's about , like the mint , the little things that you do in order to like put yourself like 1% above everyone else . And I definitely had to work at that , for sure , because I mean there's even .

Speaker 3

I mean until like three weeks ago , a month ago , like our year was fine , it wasn't amazing . If you're comparing it to our year last year , it was like not very good at all . Don't like to use the words good and bad , but you know it wasn't like um , we definitely weren't at the place that we thought we could be at um and like even throughout the year , like I think that you know , when you don't have that like sense of belief , like if you , if it's not like a natural thing for you , it's really it's so quickly can go away , where you're like wait was like last year a fluke or was like the slam we won , like was that just like a one-time thing , kind of thing , and I'd so quickly can just be like you're second guessing yourself . But I think that's , you know , it's a testament to us as a partnership and believing in each other , and then our team around us just reminding us always that we just need to like stay to like , stay the course with the process and like believe in ourselves , believe in each other and keep going Because , like I mean , there was a lot of times where we were having losses that we didn't really think we should have and it would have been very easy to be like okay , you know it's not .

Speaker 3

It not our year , blah , blah , blah . So , yeah , definitely something you have to work for . I like envy the people that they're just like , like Debbie said , like delusional about it . I like I always say like I wish I was more like that , but also , that's okay .

Speaker 1

I don't know . I think your approach is better because the delusional side is going to have that maybe entitlement a little more and they may not put in the extra work that's required to . You know , win the US Open , for example . So that could be the difference in you know a specific match or game or point , whatever it is .

Speaker 3

You know you worked on that specific volley like 10 extra times , and that could be the difference maybe a little also to your point like a little less sustainable if you're like that , like it's not like a consistent um , consistent results , consistent success , but yeah yeah% .

Speaker 1

So I want to move to the semifinal and final . It seemed like from watching . So I was there for the semifinal match . I watched the finals on TV . It seemed like from watching everything kind of came together Like . It seemed like the perfect balance of focus , energy . You had a good game plan and you were also having a lot of fun on the court .

Speaker 2

What clicked in the semis and finals to beat two of , I guess , probably two of the best three teams in the world , both in straight sets . Um , well , I think one thing that helped us was going through to like a couple challenging matches , with our second round , with our quarterfinals . You know , it felt like we were in the position that we always want to be in and I feel like we like totally embraced it . Um , because you could look at that many different ways , you , you could think , oh , it's great to make a semifinal . Now we're playing , you know , irani Paolini , who are one of the best , like you know .

Speaker 2

I don't know , you could look at it like what you've achieved is good enough , but I feel like for

Finding Belief and Building Confidence

Speaker 2

us , it was more like a full excitement to play a team like that and we have so much respect for them . And I think we knew that we had to bring our best right from the beginning and Aaron's talked about that before and I think we did that and we were able to like carry it through . We didn't have too many dips . Honestly , like like we , we stayed very present , we were enjoying ourselves . I thought Aaron played phenomenally well in the semis and in the finals . So , yeah , I think you're right , things did come together and uh , it was . It was a lot of fun aaron , anything to add ?

Speaker 3

um , no , I think honestly , that's everything . I think a big part of it is the um , really close matches or like the matches where we feel like we weren't playing our best and we still powered through in the earlier rounds . Um , because , yeah , like Gabby said , we were so excited . I do feel I do remember feeling like really excited to be in the semis against and I really thought it was cool that all four seeds were in the semis at and I really thought it was cool that all four seeds were in the semis of the last slam of the year . And that's so , so rare in women's doubles I think in most doubles , but I think more rare in women's doubles where there's like the top four seeds all like having a face-off for the final um and we hadn't played . We hadn't played a ronnie pauline all year , right , like that was the first time we've played them . Am I wrong ?

Speaker 2

Yeah , Well , I played them .

Speaker 3

I played them in French Open with Vika , oh right , but yeah , we hadn't played them together since the finals last year . So , yeah , we were excited to get that opportunity and to play one of the I would yeah , I would say arguably the two best teams in the world in the semis and the finals . Um , and we hadn't had that opportunity that many times this year , like we hadn't been in a semi against one of the top teams . Actually , I don't even think we've been in it since , like I don't know , finals last year or whatever . A couple of slams .

Speaker 1

Yeah .

Speaker 3

Yeah , true , ao , that's true . So it's been a while and I think that that's kind of what you play for and the moments that you really work for , and I think we're good at embracing those moments . Yeah , I always say that we're game time players , so I guess we proved it .

Speaker 1

You did , indeed . You did indeed . Y'all both mentioned the word excitement a couple times and sometimes I talk to players and coaches will say this too you know you want to treat every match the same , like you don't want to treat a final any different than a first round and you have the same process and routines and all that . But but then you both just said you were very excited because it was a semifinal against one of the best teams in the world . How do you balance that with putting , I guess , too much pressure on the moment and getting nervous in a specific situation in the match ? Because I would imagine for me , if I'm too excited about a match and I get out there and play and I'm close to the finish line , I might imagine for me , if I'm too excited about a match and I get out there and play and I'm close to the finish line , I might get nervous because I've been so excited about this match . How do you kind of balance that ?

Speaker 3

Yeah , good question . I think the main . I mean it's a hard balance because obviously you're like a little more excited depending on the day , depending on the match . The core , all these things like semis , if you're you want to be the best in the world at something like a semi , and a final is really gonna like light your fire and that's where you're really gonna be like okay , this is my time to shine , but at the same time you're definitely doing the same routines , the same stuff that you've been doing all tournament and from the rest of the year .

Speaker 3

Like I think it is a balance and like just figuring out . You know , and I do agree with you , sometimes if you're too excited , then you're like answer , you get a little bit more anxious , you miss a couple balls and then you're trying to like , you know , overcompensate with your energy and stuff like that . And there's , I mean you could talk for hours and hours and hours about the balance and like too high , too low , staying neutral , like what the perfect thing is for a player , and I think that's what's um , that's what's I think cool about Gabby and I is that we were very different in that sense . Like I think I'm more of like with as far as energy goes , like she likes when I'm like fiery , and that's kind of when I'm at my best is when I'm like , you know , saying come on and bringing that energy , and she's like more . She's still saying come on , obviously , but she's more stable , like the whole match , rather than like coming kind of with me .

Speaker 3

But we're doing it together . So I think , yeah , I think it's it . Uh , it's such a hard , it's such a hard balance to get right and like we're lucky that we , you know , a couple of weeks ago it came together and it went right for us . In that in those moments , um , not lucky , I don't want to say lucky , we've worked all our lives for it but um , it was nice that it did come together then and uh , so what , gabby ?

Speaker 1

maybe you can answer this . Let's say so . Aaron was just talking about the times when you're excited about the match you get out there , you're a little bit too antsy and maybe you're not playing your best because of that , so you have to maybe bring it down and calm yourself down a little bit . And then there's other times where maybe the energy's too low and you have to bring it up . How do you go in each of those directions to find that balance ?

Speaker 2

Yeah , not easy , I would say . I tend to not have too many low dips or too many high peaks , like I am a little bit more even keel . My dips are like a little bit and my peaks are like a little bit Um . So I feel like it's usually like naturally I'm not um , overly outwardly positive . I would say , uh , in like a loud sense or a fiery sense . I mean , there were many years where I wouldn't even give like a fist pump , but that was more of my own block of like . Okay , I met an expectation like things are still like not good enough . So you know , great , like I did what I was supposed to do , whereas now I'm excited and happy about every little good thing that happens .

Speaker 2

I have a totally different thought process regarding good things that happen on a tennis court , which is actually really nice it's , it's very freeing , but I think generally it's more . I notice I'm not really looking so much at like low energy or high energy for myself . I'm looking more of like am I approaching this situation embracing it with a feeling of expansion and playing free ? Or am I internalizing ? Am I getting a little too frustrated and naggy at myself , in which case I feel like I'm playing more constricted , so I really try to pay attention to that .

Speaker 2

And also if I'm playing more in my body or more with my head , so I try to bring it down from my head and into my body . And then , because there are times when I feel like my energy is very neutral , but inside my internal dialogue is actually very positive it just might not outwardly seem that way , whereas in years past if I was quiet ,

Semifinal and Final Success

Speaker 2

likely it was probably a negative internal dialogue . So I feel like I've made a shift for myself personally and I've sort of found a good path that seems to be working pretty well for me . Um , but I feel like everyone's a little bit different of how they get to that place , of how they raise their energy or of how they need to kind of , um , control their or I would say like downplay , uh , their parasympathetic nervous system a little bit , if you're a little bit too agitated yeah , that some really , really good stuff in there .

Speaker 1

We could talk about that all day . I want to ask one more question . I noticed , gabby , it seemed to me I don't know maybe this is just the first time I noticed it but it seemed to me like you were smiling a bit more than usual on the court , even after y'all like lost some points . I think there was a point in the final where you like lost the point and fell down or something , and then you got up like with a smile on and this was like a big moment , or aaron fell down or maybe aaron fell aaron fell down

Speaker 2

okay , um , but I remember the final if one must didn't fall down , I think y'all had lost the point and it was like a very big moment .

Speaker 1

I think it was like for all or something in one of the sets and you were smiling after y'all had lost the point . Talk about . Are you smiling more than usual ? Why are you doing it ?

Speaker 2

And how does it help ? Yes , I am smiling more than usual . In the semis and finals I a lot more um than even in previous rounds of the tournament , but in general , I'm smiling a lot more and it sounds like very cliche , but , uh , I am very grateful to be doing what I'm doing , and so I find that reminding myself of that uh helps relax me in matches and smiling helps relax me as well , and remembering that this is a game and I'm here to play a game and I want to enjoy it why not ? And I'm here to get better why not ? So I feel like it comes from a very genuine place .

Speaker 2

Now , you know , there are times in years past where people were like , oh , just smile , like fake it till you make it whatever , um , and I do think that that advice is valid . But at the same time , when it comes from you know , my heart and soul , I feel like that's , that's a lot more meaningful and a lot more sustainable . Um , and , honestly , like we had a lot of fun points in the semis and also in the finals , and after that one , that where Aaron fell down , like I think we lost that point , but I felt like we were doing the right things , you know . So it was like still a positive , even though we lost the point right . So I think when your intentionality is good , even if the result's not quite there , like I have a lot of trust that things will , you know , turn in our favor at some point with the right uh , with the right mindset going into each point , and I think we've had that and then that reflected in the attitude , I think too .

Speaker 1

Yeah , that's really good . Um , Aaron , I want to switch to you and ask more of a tactical question . I guess you serve and volleyed a lot throughout the tournament and you did it really well , especially in the semifinals and finals . If you were to take a club level player who serves and stays back , never serves and volleys , and teach them how to serve and volley , how would you do it ?

Speaker 3

Wow , this is all . That's just Bruce , so we can thank Bruce Lipka for that one .

Speaker 1

Listen to last week's episode .

Speaker 3

Yeah , literally listen to last week's episode , that'll tell you . Um , I think the biggest thing that changed my life and my career in serve and volleying in general was just that I always looked at serve and volleying as like you hit , you move , you stop , you hit again and then you keep moving , whereas it's like it's a continuous motion . So you're , as you're hitting , like you're kind of like literally walking or running through the serve and the volley and it's all like one like the best serve ballers in the world If you were to go and watch them like it's one . It kind of looks like one motion , it's really fluid and there's not this like stop , start , stop , start , which is it's so hard to learn , it's so hard to to , you know , teach yourself , because as juniors we all grew up as singles players and it's all stop , start , like you're hitting , you're split , stepping , you go to the forehand , you stop , you move back , like it's not at all like that . It's just a completely different movement , which I think is what bruce has done so well , and like teaching me and teaching us .

Speaker 3

Um , so , yeah , I would just try . I don't know how . Yeah , there's like a couple drills I would do . I guess I would just try to say to start really slowly and like literally walk through your serve and volley and like over exaggerate it to the point where , like you're hitting the volley and you're hitting another volley and you're like touching the net maybe , like just keep going forward until and like , if you feel yourself like there's like a split step obviously there , but the split step is very fluid you're split stepping and then you're moving through the volley and like with both both Gabby and I , when we're sort of volleying , when we're not , when we're not hitting our first volley , well , it's almost all the time because we're like too loud , we say , or it's too like , you know , stop , start , because you're always on your toes .

Speaker 3

So we , you know , you get nervous , you lose your feet , you stop to hit the volley and then you're kind of like frazzled . But yeah , that was like

Balancing Energy and Mental Focus

Speaker 3

and I never really understood it . I , I never I would watch people do it , I would try to do it myself and I never really got it . But he was the first person to kind of teach me that . So that would be my advice , which is it wasn't great advice , but listen to the last , that's good , that was really good yeah , no , I mean , I've never thought about it that way .

Speaker 1

um , I served in bali some , but I don't . It's not something I teach a lot , and because I don't teach technique really , bruce and y'all are probably a lot better at that than me but yeah , I've never thought about it as kind of one fluid motion like that . But that makes a lot of sense . So I want to move on to questions from Instagram and Twitter , and then we'll hop off here . Questions from Instagram and Twitter , and then we'll hop off here . First is well , this one's from Tennis Tribe writer Hanlon . He wanted to know and it sounds like he listened to your episode on Control the Controllables recently , when Gabby mentioned that she was out till about 2am and then went back but he wanted more details and wanted to know how late Aaron stayed out .

Speaker 2

Stayed out or stayed standing .

Speaker 3

He just wanted more details .

Speaker 2

I don't know when Aaron left . I don't know when Aaron left .

Speaker 1

What are you willing to share ?

Speaker 2

I don't know when Aaron left , we went to dinner . Okay , dinner was amazing . First of all , it was like this set menu . One of Aaron's friends organized the whole thing . It was honestly one of the best set menu things I've ever had , and I'm really picky with how I eat , so I feel like that was great . There was a lot of protein . Shout out what would it Catch New York City ? Catch NFC . Yeah , so good . If you're ever in New York , highly recommend . We sat outside . It was a beautiful evening . So many people were there . It was really fun . And then we went to a bar just down the road . I don't remember what it was called . We went there as a group and then I don't know what happened to everyone , because everyone left us separately . Everyone left separately . So , yeah , so I don't know . I don't know where Erin ended up .

Speaker 3

I ended up safe and sound in my hotel room , thanks to my family and friends . Um , yeah , that's . Uh , it was really fun . Honestly , the dinner was amazing . You know , it was awesome . It was really fun . It couldn't have asked for a better celebratory night . The 12 pm match and being done by like 1.32 was amazing , but at the same time , a little dangerous because you start drinking so early . So if yeah , so yeah , would recommend , but also not recommend . You know what I mean .

Speaker 1

Yeah , maybe like a 2 , 3 o'clock start time is like ideal .

Speaker 3

Yeah , because last time it was so late I think we finished . It wasn't too late , but we finished late , went to dinner and we didn't really get the chance to celebrate . But this was kind of , this was really nice it was fun .

Speaker 1

It sounds like fun . Dan wanted to ask . I don't even know how to pronounce these champagne names Moet or Veuve Clicquot .

Speaker 3

Oh , they're asking which one yeah , dan dan's question .

Speaker 1

Your coach gabby , yes I don't know .

Speaker 2

We should probably ask dan moe , are you kidding ?

Speaker 3

they gave us bottles and they bejeweled it . 2025 women's doublesils champions . It was awesome .

Speaker 1

Josh from Instagram . He's a coach that I know Wanted to know what is one thing that each of your coaches have taught you that's had the

The Art of Serve and Volley

Speaker 1

biggest impact to help you reach where you are today .

Speaker 2

Oh whoa .

Speaker 1

Yeah , big question .

Speaker 2

I think , aaron , it's Aaron's volleys from bruce , right ? I'm just kidding yeah , no , I think you're , you're probably right no , because sorry , I'll just side note when you're talking about that , I was literally thinking about and I was like that's a really good cue actually to like keep moving through the volley , like that . That's really helpful . And I was thinking this week I'm going to try that , so it's working .

Speaker 1

Always improving .

Speaker 2

No , but man Well , also I've had I work with a few different coaches . Like for me , my dad helped to develop me . I talk to him all the time . I feel like one of the best things that he tells me now is to grunt . Actually , he reminds me to grunt a lot because it makes me more brave . The breathing and exhalation helps . I think my shots have more quality on them . So I feel like that's one of the best things my dad's reminded me of .

Speaker 2

Um , I think Andrea in Toronto is more like an overall belief in myself . I would say she's known me since I was 10 , and she's one of the first people to always remind me to trust myself . And then Pat , here in Florida , Pat Dasik that's tough . What's one of the best things that he's told me ? Honestly , he tells me so many good things .

Speaker 2

We have really great chats about so many different things in the game of tennis singles , doubles , footwork , technique we love to dissect . He shares with me different um progressions that he's working with his players on , and so I feel like Pat teaches me that it's important to have a passion for the sport in general , Um , and to always focus on the process . We talk about the process a lot . And finally , Dan the best thing I learned from Dan is to support your partner unconditionally open and I did not understand what that meant completely until he told it to us and the importance of it and what it means . And yeah , like I think my whole tennis career supporting my devil's partner was very important , but sometimes I think I got so much in my head about stuff that I wouldn't always have the awareness of how my attitude and behavior was impacting my partner , and so I think Dan's done an amazing job of highlighting the importance of supporting your partner and yourself unconditionally .

Speaker 1

Another question from Instagram is from CM Freeman . How are your tactics different against double specialists versus singles star combinations like Coco and Jessica ?

Speaker 3

Good question . I think it actually changes quite a bit . I think with doubles parents that have their set plays , we do like , well , I mean , everyone has their set plays , but we do a little bit more , um , you know , making them uncomfortable , and we kind of switch our plays a little bit more based on that . And then when we're playing like singles stars or singles players or whatever you want to call them , our game naturally makes them uncomfortable . So we don't need to worry that much about that . It's more about , you know , executing what our game style is . So I would say , like that's like the broad answer , um , but it really depends on who we're playing . But yeah , that would be . I would say that that's like the main answer , that we change based on who we're playing a question from twitter .

Speaker 1

This is from shay sui's unofficial pr manager on twitter um , what sort of mental preparation goes into getting yourself in the right headspace for a grand slam final ? How affected are you by that pressure ? What do you do to mitigate it ? And is the mental side something you guys work on personally or as a team ? I feel like we've talked a lot about this already , but if you want to add anything , yeah , I feel like we've covered a lot of that .

Speaker 2

I mean , you know , sticking to the process , trusting ourselves , trusting each other , embracing the big moments .

Speaker 1

Smiling .

Speaker 2

Smiling , finding ways to enjoy .

Speaker 3

It's not really about mitigating ? I feel like not it . One main thing is like we don't try to like mitigate the pressure . We just try to like embrace it like it's happening . So like , yeah , the pressure , the nerves , all the feelings , whatever it is , it's there , it's happening , we're going to talk about it and then we're going to go through it . We don't need to like shy away or sweep it under the rug . I think that's a big thing that we talk about .

Celebrating Victory in New York

Speaker 1

That's really good . Yeah , I just actually shared a lesson on that , about how people have this like misconception of nerves and they think that they're a bad thing . So when they feel them , they think there's something wrong with them for feeling nervous . But instead you have to learn how to play with the nerves rather than trying to get rid of them , so I think that's really really good advice . A question from Ozon Kabak from Twitter how did they decide who returns on deuce and ad sides ?

Speaker 3

Yeah , you've always played on the ad , right .

Speaker 2

Mostly , mostly ad , but I've played some on the deuce , um , but mostly , yeah , it's been ad .

Speaker 3

I guess you just pick whatever side you're more comfortable with no , I mean now I would say I'm more of like a deuce court player . I think when we started playing together I came into the partnership assuming Gabby would be on the ad side , and I think that's one thing that you said in our initial chat . Like I am comfortable in the ads , where I've had my most success . That's where I'd like to play um , and I think you also like . When you're looking at partners , you kind of see where they play and you look like you know what I mean . Like if I was , if you only see me be successful in the ad , gabby probably wouldn't have been like , hey , let's chat about playing . Like you didn't know it was the unknown , so you'd see me more successful on the deuce um yeah , initially anyway , I mean over time you can adapt if you want to .

Speaker 2

But I mean once you , I guess , once you have success a certain way , yeah , like you don't really have a reason to . I guess , once you have success a certain way , yeah , like you don't really have a reason to change it unless you're given a reason to change it Maybe .

Speaker 1

Mm .

Speaker 3

Hmm , yeah , um Amanda from Instagram wants to know your schedule for the rest of the year . Oh , we've got . We're at the age where a lot of our friends are getting married , so we have to change our schedules based on attending best friends weddings . So we're gonna play in beijing together . Um , I will play in wuhan . Who I play with is I have no idea . We might play in Osaka , if we want some more court time together before finals , and then Gabby will play in Tokyo . Wait , do you have a partner ? No , okay to be announced as well , and then we'll go to finals . So we'll be in Beijing , 100% together . Well , who plays together ? And then we'll go to final . So we'll be in beijing , 100 together um .

Speaker 1

She also said can they please get more behind the scenes videos of them at practice and tournaments ? Erin's sister was with them at wta finals last year and got so much great content . So , oh my god , some good , good encouragement . Encouragement from some of the Instagram fans .

Speaker 3

Okay , thank you . Oh , that's adorable . Yeah , we will try . Tara can't come , tara will literally die , but that lady just said that that's so sweet we're trying to bring . Well , we hope Nora's coming to finals and I'm trying to convince my other sister to come to finals , so hopefully we can get some more content . We'll try , yeah .

Speaker 1

Yeah , the behind the scenes stuff is really cool . Um , who wins ? They ?

Speaker 3

mean the dancing videos , for sure , she definitely means the dancing videos .

Speaker 1

She doesn't want to crash this stuff . Yeah , I think she referenced that cause . It was um , I had to consolidate some of the questions . I think that's right . Chase from Instagram wants to know who wins a singles match between the two of you .

Speaker 3

Gabby Gabby's been ranked way harder and also , gabby would be my nightmare on a singles court . We've never played . We've literally never played . We don't play like . We play like sometimes crossbar games against each other , but even that isn't that beneficial for us . Like dingles yeah , we play dingles with our coaches . We beat their asses .

Speaker 1

The next . We need to get video of that Actually that's what we need . The next question is about your coaches . Good life , good travel . On Instagram asked what is Dan ?

Speaker 3

and Bruce's pre-match ritual .

Speaker 1

Should I ask them this the last couple of weeks ?

Speaker 2

Dan says shout if you need anything . And I rarely shout no , I mean , if

Coaching Insights and Partnership Dynamics

Speaker 2

we have like a racket at the stringer , I guess they'll go get them . Um , like pretty basic stuff . We we warm up differently , so like our main time together is probably like right before the match , and then Dan wants to have a few words with us to bestow his wisdom upon us . Uh , then we go out and play yeah , that's about right .

Speaker 3

I feel like bruce will like hug gabby and fist pump me , since I don't really like hugs and I that's about yeah , like that's really it . Oh , I grip my racket . Like bruce will always say or dan , they both know now they'll like hold my grip while I grip my racket . Like Bruce will always say or Dan , they both know now they'll like hold my grip while I grip my racket and listen to music . It's like always a thing non-negotiable that's a good one .

Speaker 1

Um , last two questions , um , this one's also from good life , good travel . Uh , what is your dream sponsorship ? And it doesn't have to be tennis . I kind of like this one whoa um sponsorship wow , that is so hard yeah , it could be like an egg salad company or something or something .

Speaker 3

Um , oh , my god , mine would got . Mine's gotta be something like chicken fingers , like raisin canes , something like that , like like I'd wear that on my shoulder wing . Stop like . I don't know something like that , where it's like I , I love chicken fingers and fries . So that's my final answer . But I don't know something like that where it's like I , I love chicken fingers and fries . So that's my final answer , but I don't know exactly what company it's a good choice dave's hot chicken ? I think dave's hot chicken oh good , that's , that's my answer .

Speaker 3

It would be dave's hot chicken . They'd like put a patch on me and they give me unlimited chicken all the time that's good .

Speaker 1

I have a friend who owns a franchise here that I get to some it's .

Speaker 3

It's awesome oh wow goals . Are you looking for a player ?

Speaker 2

no , I'll ask um , what's with im8 ? And uh , because , because I have a much bigger focus on my health ever since last year and so I feel like , and I genuinely feel the benefits of having used this product since March I'm actually going to make a reel today or tomorrow and talk about it again but , like , I really appreciate the people behind the product . They're brilliant , they care a lot and I feel a difference taking it . So I feel like , just in terms of my overall physical well-being , it's been a game changer for me . And yeah , so maybe it's a lame answer to tell you something that I already have , but that's it for me , that's awesome .

Speaker 1

Well , erin , you've got some more to do to get Dave's hot chicken , because Gabby's already got hers . All right , last question , question y'all . This took a little bit longer than I promised and I apologize for that um , it's okay sandra from instagram . Uh asks what is the biggest challenge you've had to overcome making a strong partnership .

Speaker 2

So I guess , as a team , that's really hard I think just figuring out how to blend our personalities , probably , and like our character traits and stuff , um , which has required , like , good communication , obviously dan and bruce and others that have our back that help guide us , I feel like . I feel like our situation is one of those things where , like , when it's good , it's great , and so I feel like it's just a matter of how you get to that point and all the little adaptations you may need to make the vibe that you need to bring um the finessing of the practices a little bit Like I think we're both willing to do what it takes um thus far to like be the best we can be , and it's not always perfect and that's okay , but I I think just um , yeah , I think it's just about the , the blend of two different people , you know , trying to be one of the best teams in the world anything to add , erin , before we hop off wow , um .

Speaker 3

No , I

Future Plans and Dream Sponsorships

Speaker 3

was gonna say that I think you know we kind of a similar thing , like I think gabby said in a few interviews , like , oh , opposites attract , like we are so different in so many different ways , and that is where we , um , you know our strengths , our weaknesses , where we kind of balance each other out . Obviously , doubles is so difficult because you're in like these high pressure situations so sometimes , like you can't quite understand how , or you can't quite understand another person how they're acting , because it's not the same way that you would act in that moment . And just us , like unconditionally supporting each other . It's just not always easy .

Speaker 3

I think that's anyone in a any sort of relationship long-term , but especially us like with a business relationship and like also a friendship off the court , um , that we've built over the years . I think that's just something always . You're always kind of navigating it and like sometimes you just sometimes you make mistakes , sometimes you , you know you kind of have to have those like open conversations where it's like okay , my bad , or however it is , whatever it is . I always say that these doubles partnerships . I've never really felt like this , but I do feel like it is when you're playing week in , week out and you're one of the best teams in the world . It is kind of like a marriage , like we see each other more than we see anyone else in our lives , a marriage like we see each other more than we see anyone else in our lives , um , and so that's something you have to work out always if you want it to be successful . Um , so yeah , that's probably awesome .

Speaker 1

It's a good place to end it . Thank you all for uh staying on for so long again . I'm sorry it took so long , but we had a lot of questions through instagram and twitter , and I feel like this , this was um yeah , this was a lot of fun . So I really appreciate it .

Speaker 2

Thanks for having us . Thank you and good luck .

Speaker 1

Good luck the rest of the year .

Speaker 3

Thank you , thanks a lot . Talk to you soon .