Kiwi Erin Routliffe and Canadian partner Gabriela Dabrowski will contest the WTA Finals doubles crown, facing Czech Katerina Siniakova and American Taylor Townsend for the spoils at Riyadh.
Routliffe, 29, rose to No.1 in world doubles rankings this year, but has since been surpassed by Siniakova, who claimed French Open and Wimbledon titles this year. She teamed with American Coco Gauff for victory at Roland Garros, before combining with Townsend to overcome Routliffe and Dabrowski at the grass Grand Slam.
Siniakova and Townsend are seeded only eighth for the year-end championship, but reached the final by toppling top seeds Jelena Ostapenko and Lyudmyla Kichenok in the group stage, then dispatching Veronika Kudermetova and Chan Hao-ching in the semis.
The Kiwi and Canadian are seeded second for the event, and gained some payback over Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Ellen Perez, who edged them in the semifinals last year at Cancun.
At the same stage this year, Routliffe and Dabrowski came back from 5-3 down in a tiebreak to grab the opening set and then cruised through the second, prevailing 7-6(7) 6-1.
"We always try to bring the best out of each other," said Routliffe. "We always try to smile and have fun, even when it's not going out way.
"It's so important in doubles. If anyone's playing doubles, make sure you support your partners!"
Routliffe is completing a strong year that saw her reach seven WTA doubles finals, winning at Nottingham with Dabrowski and Cincinnati with American Asia Muhammad.
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