Routliffe bows out at Indian Wells

Erin Routliffe’s debut appearance at the Indian Wells Masters in Palm Springs has been short lived.

Routliffe and her American partner Kaitlyn Christian have been beaten in straight sets 6-4 6-4 by sixth seeds Gaby Dabrowski and Hayley Carter in 1 hour and 12 minutes.

Routliffe and Christian got off to a poor start with the Kiwi broken in her opening service game after serving three doubles faults. Games went with serve until Routliffe was broken again in the fifth game to trail 4-1. Routliffe and Christian were able to break back, but it wasn’t enough as the sixth seeds took the opening set.

Routliffe held serve at the start of the second set, before a number of service breaks. At 4-4 the Kiwi was broken for the third time in the match and Dabrowski held serve to close out the match.

Despite the loss Routliffe is projected to move to a career high of 55 in the WTA rankings after Indian Wells.