How a Wimbledon doubles victory reshaped the history of New Zealand tennis rankings
In short: At the 2024 Wimbledon Championships, Kateřina Siniaková and Taylor Townsend captured the women's doubles title in a hard-fought final. While the victory marked a career milestone for both players, it also triggered a historic shift in the global rankings, crowning a new world number one from an unexpected nation.
The 2024 final saw Kateřina Siniaková and Taylor Townsend defeat Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe with a score of 7–6(7–5), 7–6(7–1). For Townsend, this triumph represented her first major women's doubles title. Siniaková, meanwhile, secured her ninth major doubles trophy, an achievement that allowed her to complete the prestigious Channel Slam, having previously won the French Open alongside Coco Gauff.
The tournament carried significant implications for the WTA rankings. By advancing to the final, Erin Routliffe secured the world number one doubles ranking. This achievement made her the first player from New Zealand, across both male and female categories, to reach the top spot in either singles or doubles. The competition for this ranking was intense, with Mertens, Siniaková, and Laura Siegemund also entering the tournament as contenders for the top position.
The event also marked the end of an era for other competitors. Hsieh Su-wei, who won the previous year alongside the now-retired Barbora Strýcová, partnered with Elise Mertens in an attempt to defend her success. However, their run ended in the semifinals against the eventual champions. This loss was particularly notable as it snapped Hsieh’s impressive 22-match winning streak at the tournament. Elsewhere, Bethanie Mattek-Sands, who was aiming to complete a career Grand Slam, saw her campaign conclude in the third round after a defeat to Hsieh and Mertens.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: 2024 Wimbledon Championships – Women's doubles
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