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STA Celebrates US Open Title with Gaby Dabrowski & Erin Routliffe

Posted on: September 8, 2025 |

SotoTennis Academy Celebrates US Open Title with Gaby Dabrowski & Erin Routliffe

SotoTennis Academy is incredibly proud of Gaby Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe, who have won their second US Open Women’s title!

After more than two years of working closely with STA Director Dan Kiernan, Gaby and Erin showcased incredible teamwork and resilience to lift the trophy once again in New York.

Having first won their first Grand Slam there in 2023, to now capture a second title in 2025 is an amazing achievement. We couldn’t be prouder of the girls, their partnership, and the team behind them, including Dan who has been with them every step of the way:


“These women are incredible. To have witnessed firsthand what they have both been through, and to understand what it takes to win a Grand Slam, is truly inspiring. They produced two flawless performances in the semi-finals and finals to take the trophy, and I couldn’t be prouder of them and everyone around them. It takes a village over many years for an achievement like this.” – Dan Kiernan

Their journey through this year’s US Open was anything but straightforward. In their quarter-final, Gaby and Erin found themselves 0-6 down before fighting back to win, before powering past 2nd seeds Sara Errani & Jasmine Paolini in the semi-final.

They beat the top-ranked pair of Taylor Townsend & Katarina Siniakova 6-4, 6-4 in an entertaining final at Arthur Ashe Stadium to secure their 2nd title in 3 years at Flushing Meadows.

Inspiring the Next Generation

For us here at STA, moments like these mean more than just a trophy. They serve as inspiration to every player training at base, an example of what’s possible with the right attitude, work ethic, and commitment to improving day after day.

Gaby & Erin have both spent time at STA, training alongside our full-time players. Watching them win a Grand Slam shows our juniors and pros alike the level of dedication needed to compete at the very top of the game.

“If you see it, you can be it. Erin and Gaby are so relatable and have built a lovely connection with STA over the last couple of years. They really appreciate the support from everyone at STA and love this place. I hope this can inspire others and show that this is absolutely possible in this sport with the right dedication, commitment, and longevity.” – Dan Kiernan

Listen to Gaby & Erin reliving their run to the title

Gaby and Erin joined Dan on our podcast, Control the Controllables, for a very special US Open Review episode. Listeners get exclusive behind-the-scenes insights into their preparation, challenges, and what it takes to lift a Grand Slam trophy. Dan also looks at all of the drama from this year’s tournament with our fantastic panel.

Don’t miss this special episode! Listen here or watch here, and keep up to date on all things CTC Podcast via our socials @ctc.podcast.

Train at SotoTennis Academy

What makes this victory extra special is the energy it brings back to our base in Sotogrande. Success on the biggest stage has a way of lifting everyone – players, coaches, and the wider team alike.

If you’d like to experience that environment for yourself, we’d love to welcome you to SotoTennis Academy. 

👉 Learn more about training at SotoTennis Academy

Congratulations once again to Gaby Dabrowski, Erin Routliffe, and our Director Dan Kiernan on this historic US Open victory!

STA’s AO25 Highlights

Posted on: February 3, 2025 |

Congratulations to Gaby Dabrowski, Erin Routliffe, and Michael Venus on their brilliant performances at the Australian Open, with the support of our Academy Director, Dan Kiernan.

Both teams made it to the semi-finals of their respective events – Gaby and Erin in the women’s doubles, and Michael and Erin in the mixed – fantastic achievements at the first Grand Slam of 2025! 🇦🇺🎾

Dan also bumped into some familiar faces in Melbourne… it was fantastic to reunite with former STA coaches Mark Smout and Ollie Cores, and former full-time player Billy Harris, who were all thriving at the Happy Slam!

It was great to see such a strong Team Soto presence in Melbourne, and we’re excited for what’s to come this year.

Here are some behind-the-scenes of an exciting quarter-finals day in Melbourne. 🤩❤️

SotoTennis Academy Student Placements 25-26

Posted on: October 21, 2024 |

Kickstart Your Career with SotoTennis Academy’s 2025-2026 Student Placements!

It’s that time of year again—our student placement opportunities are live and waiting for you! Over the past seven years, SotoTennis Academy has welcomed university students from all over to join Team Soto for their placement year. It’s a unique chance to gain hands-on experience, become an integral part of our vibrant community, and soak up the beauty of southern Spain.

For the 2025-2026 academic year, we have four exciting placement roles available. Click the links below to explore each role, including position details, requirements, and how to apply:

Wondering what it’s like to be part of the Academy? Watch the video below for a glimpse into life at SotoTennis and hear from our placement students.

Don’t miss out! These placements are highly sought-after, so we encourage you to apply early. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out via info@sototennis.com —we’d love to hear from you and help you take the next step in your career journey!

New STA Hub!

Posted on: July 24, 2024 |

We have some exciting news to share… our brand new STA Hub is ready!

Based in the recently renovated Plaza Blanca, we now have our very own performance gym, classroom, office space and merchandise store.

The space has been designed with the tennis athlete in mind, and will be our hub for athletic development at the academy.

Here our Strength & Conditioning Team have the space to deliver our Fitness Programme, including a range of sessions from strength training, conditioning and recovery.

We also look forward to running off-court sessions in our new classroom, and displaying our Team Soto stash on site!

We hope to see you down at our new Academy Hub soon.

Find us at Plaza Blanca below!

SotoTennis Academy, Local 40 Plaza Blanca, Sotogrande,

Av. de Paniagua, 11310 San Roque, Cádiz

Wimbledon 2024

Posted on: July 23, 2024 |

Wimbledon Finalists & New World No.1 Team!

We’d like to say a massive congratulations to Gaby Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe who powered through to the Wimbledon Women’s Doubles Final this year!

Supported by Gaby’s Coach and STA Director Dan Kiernan, along with Erin’s Coach Bruce Lipka, the girls have now become the highest ranked team in the world.

Following their Rothesay title, Eastbourne final and Wimbledon final appearances, Erin is now individually ranked No.1 and Gaby No.3!

What an inspiration to all our players training back here at STA. We’ve been lucky enough to meet both Gaby and Erin this year as they have joined us for training blocks here at the academy. We look forward to hopefully welcoming both back to base in Sotogrande soon.

Amazing work team. ❤️

Team Soto in SW19

Former Full Time Players Tom Linley and George Russell were also in action at Wimbledon, working as hitting partners for the likes of Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic.

Watch below to hear more about Tom’s incredible experience hitting with the top tennis players in the world. 🤯

Wimbledon 2024 Review with CTC Podcast

Want to hear Dan and our fantastic Grand Slam Podcast Panel review everything that went down at this year’s Championships?

We’re joined by very special guests, this year’s Men’s Doubles Champions Harri Heliövaara and Henry Patten, along with Henry’s Coach, Calvin Betton, and CTC favourite Freddie Nielsen.

Our panel discusses:

  • Why have there been so many different winners of the Women’s Singles event?

  • Has Carlos Alcaraz ended Novak Djokovic’s reign over Men’s tennis?

  • Gaby and Erin reaching the Wimbledon final and becoming World No.1 pair.

Catch our latest pod here:

TennisAthlete: STA launches new Online S&C Programmes

Posted on: June 13, 2024 |

Introducing TennisAthlete

As a dedicated tennis player, you’ve invested significant time, effort, and resources into honing your skills and competing at your best. However, maximising this investment means sustaining peak performance year-round, on and off the court.

Enter TennisAthlete: your partner in elevating your game to new heights. We offer tailored programmes designed for players committed to enhancing their physical prowess, whether they’re seasoned athletes or newcomers recognising the importance of physical conditioning.

Understanding the dynamic nature of athletic development, our programmes evolve with you, adapting to different phases of your annual cycle and career trajectory.

From foundational training for ages 10-15, emphasising movement and basic strength, to specialised routines for players aged 15 and above, focusing on strength, power, and tournament readiness, our offerings cater to diverse needs.

  • For young athletes (Age 10-15), our programmes emphasise movement fundamentals and basic strength and speed development.

  • As players mature (Age 15+), we pivot towards comprehensive strength and power training, along with specialised programmes addressing tournament preparation and injury prevention. 

  • Even for adult players, our commitment remains unwavering, with targeted injury prevention, tournament preparation, and conditioning programmes tailored to suit every stage of your journey.

Elevate your game with TennisAthlete by SotoTennis Academy, where we’re dedicated to keeping you at the top of your game, every serve, every set, and every match.

Check out our first course, BulletProof Tennis, below!

Kiernan vs Cores 2024

Posted on: June 5, 2024 |

On the 31st May 2024 we hosted our annual STA Team Matchplay Event, and this year saw Team Kiernan take on a new side: Team Cores!

It was a fantastic day full of competitive spirit, court-side chants, teamwork, and some great performances for both teams. Enjoy some highlights in the video below!

Thank you to everyone who came along, and congratulations to Team Kiernan for taking the overall win. 🖤