Routliffe goes down fighting at ASB Classic

New Zealand wildcard Erin Routliffe has put in a tremendous effort but has ultimately come up just short in her first-round singles match at the ASB Classic. The 27-year-old doubles specialist has lost 6-2 4-6 6-4 in 2 hours 24 to Romanian qualifier Elena-Gabriela Ruse. It was a match that spanned more than four hours through three rain delays

Routliffe was always going to be up against it playing a player who had won two rounds of qualifying and who has been ranked as high as 51 in the world. The 25-year-old Romanian is currently ranked 91 and who has won a WTA singles title in Hamburg in 2021.

Ruse made a super start and raced to a 3-0 lead in the first set before Routliffe got going. The first set was over in just 34 minutes and when the first of three rain delays came at 2-1 to Ruse in the second set, there wasn’t a hint of the comeback that was to follow.

Routliffe hung in in the second set saving three break points and then at 4-4 created opportunities of her own and converted on her second break point chance. She duly served out the set to force a decider.

But Routliffe was unable to carry the momentum into the third set as Ruse with two breaks of serve raced to 4-0. Routliffe rallied again and clawed her way back to 4-3. She had a lengthy service game and chances to hold for 4-4 but couldn’t convert and Ruse broke to serve for the match.

The rain came again at 15-40 and after the resumption Routliffe broke serve before losing her own serve to love to lose the match.

Routliffe who as top seed in the doubles with American Caroline Dolehide was beaten in the first round on Monday night, will now pack her bags for next week’s WTA tournament in Adelaide before the Australian Open. She will be playing with her regular doubles partner Alicja Rosolska who has been playing for Poland in the United Cup across the Tasman.