Photo : Martin Sidorjak
Over the holidays, Gabriela Dabrowski courageously revealed that she was diagnosed with breast cancer in April of 2024. She shared a glimpse into how she beat the awful disease all while continuing to shine on the tennis court thanks to some historic results that, in hindsight, are even more remarkable than originally thought.
Her Instagram post went viral, and messages of support came pouring in from the likes of Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, Ons Jabeur, Madison Keys, her Canadian Billie Jean King Cup teammates, and Félix Auger-Aliassime, who she partnered with to win a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics in the midst of her treatment. The Ottawa Citizen in Dabrowski’s hometown received a letter from a reader and fellow cancer survivor thanking them for sharing her story and the WTA also started a Gaby Strong movement to rally around her.
She went into further detail about her journey through media interviews with Good Morning America, the Globe and Mail, and CBC. She provided insight into how her cancer was discovered, the two surgeries she went through, the treatment she continues to receive in the form of endocrine therapy, her decision to continue playing tennis while undergoing treatment, her six-month clear scan, leaning on those closest to her, and the importance of early detection.
“I really feel like it’s a privilege to be a part of the sisterhood of breast cancer survivors. It’s come to a place of peace and of wanting to give back,” Dabrowski said.
It’s clear that Dabrowski’s decision to open up has already had a profound impact on so many and she will continue to inspire us, both on and off the court.
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