Tennis Star Erin Routliffe Inspired by Paralympic Sister

When Erin Routliffe watches her younger sister wake up at 4 am to train for Paralympic swimming, she sees the fire that drives her own championship game.

The two-time US Open doubles champion recently opened up about what truly fuels a world-class athlete. For Routliffe, it's not trophies or rankings but family, especially her sister Tess, a two-time Paralympic medalist who brought home medals from Rio 2016 and Paris 2024.

"I may be the older sister, but she pushes me in so many ways," Routliffe told reporters during the Billie Jean King Cup in Delhi. "I've always admired, maybe even envied" her dedication to training.

The Routliffe family's story began unconventionally. Erin was born in New Zealand while her parents sailed around the world. The family later settled in Auckland before moving to Canada, where Erin joined Montreal's National Training Centre in 2011.

Growing up with three sisters carving their own paths taught Routliffe early that inspiration lives closest to home. Tess conquers pools worldwide despite physical challenges. Tara played competitive volleyball. Each shaped Erin's journey in profound ways.

That journey hasn't been smooth. In 2019, Routliffe suffered a devastating first-round loss at Wimbledon after holding match points. The heartbreak led to a six-month break from tennis, but it became her turning point.

"It hurt really bad," she admitted. "But you have to ride the roller coaster of this life and learn as you go."

Why This Inspires

Routliffe's transformation after that 2019 loss shows how champions rebuild. She returned with a healthier mindset and a new doubles partner, Gabriela Dabrowski. Together, they've won seven titles since August 2023, including two US Opens and championships in Stuttgart and Cincinnati.

The partnership clicked immediately, proving that sometimes you need to step back to move forward. Routliffe stopped making tennis her everything and started playing with joy again.

Now she dreams of sharing the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics with Tess. Both sisters were in Paris for the 2024 Games, though Tess competed a month after the main Olympics ended. Being together in LA would create a full-circle moment for a family that's always supported each other's wildest dreams.

Routliffe also champions progress for women in sports, praising the WTA's maternity fund as groundbreaking. "I think it was the first women's sport that ever had something like that for mothers," she said, recognizing how pioneers like Billie Jean King paved the way.

From sailing adventures to Paralympic pools to Grand Slam courts, the Routliffe sisters prove that the best competition pushes you toward greatness without ever being a rivalry.