'Gaby Dabrowski Day': Ottawa tennis champ served up honour from the city
An Ottawa tennis champion returned home to a special honour from her hometown.
In a ceremony Thursday at Ottawa City Hall, Mayor Jim Watson officially declared Sept.16 as "Gaby Dabrowski Day" in the capital.
Gabriela (Gaby) Dabrowski, 29, grew up in the city’s south end and has become one of Canada’s most successful female tennis players. She was the first Canadian female to win a Grand Slam title, and represented Canada at both the Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo Games. In August, she and her partner Luisa Stefani of Brazil captured the doubles title at the National Bank Open in Montreal.
Dabrowski hasn’t been able to return home since November 2019 due to the pandemic and her competitive schedule.
"It is so special to come back here and see people I haven’t seen in a really long time," said Dabrowski.
Dabrowski credits much of her success to having access to free and public tennis courts growing up in Ottawa. She began playing at the courts at Russell Boyd Park in the Blossom Park neighbourhood. They have since been renamed in her honour.
On Thursday, Dabrowski returned to the court to play a match with a long-time friend.
"Coming back and seeing where it all began is very humbling," said Dabrowski. "It is a really nice moment to know that people are going to enjoy those courts for many more years, and who knows if there is another Canadian star that grows up there."
Dabrowski says, "Kids may say, 'Oh wow, look at this big result,' but it is all about where you start and how do you get there."
On hand for the ceremony at City Hall were Dabrowski’s parents, Wanda and Yurek.
Her mother Wanda says, "It is a lovely moment and wonderful for the city to honour her in this way and have so many people who have been a part of her journey to be here and for Gaby to be able to thank them for their contribution to her success, it really is lovely."
Her father Yurek, who built a homemade ball-feeder in their garage so their daughter could practise, says she has always had a love for sports. "What was fun was we didn’t introduce her to tennis or sports, it was coming from her, it was easy for us to offer support… we had to learn how to play tennis!"
Dabrowski is part of a wave of Canadian tennis sensations. "I am so lucky to be part of that group. Leylah (Fernandez) and Felix (Auger-Aliassime) are amazing people, they are so kind, so hard-working."
Dabroski says it is an honour to have a day named after her, but she hopes she can encourage other people to pick up a racket and dream big.
"It is all about getting a little bit better every day. I think that is a good message for anyone picking up a racket or try to get better at anything… it is just step-by-step."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
Half of Canadians have negative opinion of latest Liberal budget: poll
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
Teacher shortages see some Ontario high school students awarded perfect grades on midterm exams
Students at a high school in York Region have been awarded perfect marks on their midterm exams in three subjects – not because of their academic performances however, but because they had no teacher.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
An Ontario senior thought he called Geek Squad for help with his printer. Instead, he got scammed out of $25,000
An Ontario senior’s attempt to get technical help online led him into a spoofing scam where he lost $25,000. Now, he’s sharing his story to warn others.
Her fiance has been in prison for 49 years. She's trying to free him before it’s too late
She was lying in bed on a Thursday morning, thinking about the man she loved, hoping to win his freedom before time ran out.