Wimbledon finalist Gabriela Dabrowski has revealed she competed through the 2024 tennis season while undergoing treatment for breast cancer. The 32-year-old Canadian kept her diagnosis private until recently, sharing her journey in an emotional Instagram post.
“I know this will come as a shock to many, but I am OK and I will be OK. Early detection saves lives,” Dabrowski wrote, reflecting on her diagnosis. She explained that she first discovered a lump in the spring of 2023, which doctors initially deemed not concerning. However, after a scan in 2024, doctors diagnosed her with breast cancer.
Following surgery, Dabrowski took a break from competition in April and May but returned to the court in June. In her comeback, she and her partner Erin Routliffe won their first tournament together in Nottingham.
Dabrowski made the decision to delay treatment to participate in Wimbledon, where she and Routliffe reached the final, finishing as runners-up. She also competed at the Olympics, where the duo won Canada’s first-ever Olympic mixed doubles medal, securing a bronze by defeating Wesley Koolhof and Demi Schuurs of the Netherlands 6-3, 7-6 (2).
The Canadian tennis star ended the season on a high note, winning the WTA Finals with Routliffe and finishing the year ranked third in the world.
In her post, Dabrowski explained why she chose to share her story now: “For a long time, I wasn’t ready to expose myself to the possible attention and questions I would have received before. I wanted to figure everything out and handle things privately with only those closest to me in the loop.”
She added, “Currently, I’m in a place where I have a better grasp of my treatment, side effects, and how to manage them. My intentions in sharing some of my experience are to emphasize the quality of life one can maintain when cancer is detected early, with access to skilled healthcare providers, and when you take care of your mental, physical, and spiritual well-being, surrounded by people who truly have your back.”
Dabrowski’s courageous determination serves as an inspiration, showing that with early detection and proper care, a fulfilling and successful life is still possible, even while battling cancer.
