"To cancer I say, f**k you, but also thank you" - Ex-US Open doubles champ Gabriela Dabrowski reveals shocking health diagnosis

Former US Open doubles champion Gabriela Dabrowski revealed this week that she was diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this year. The Canadian tennis star continued to compete on the tour while undergoing treatment.

Dabrowski took to Instagram on December 31 to announce that she was diagnosed with breast cancer in April this year. In a long post, she detailed her journey from treatment in between tournaments to ending the season on the best note possible.

While the past nine months were tough for the Canadian, she also developed a new appreciation for life and her loved ones thanks to the disease.

"When the threat of losing everything l'd worked for my entire life became a real possibility, only then did I begin to authentically appreciate what I had. Loving parents and friends, amazing coaches, a doubles partner who stuck by me, a real team, access to health care experts, and to play a game for a living."

"To cancer I say f**k you, but also, thank you," Dabrowski wrote.

The doubles World No. 3 said she first felt a lump in her breast during a self-examination in 2023. After getting an assurance from a doctor that it was nothing major, Dabrowski was relieved.

But a year later, the lump became bigger, and on the advice of the doctor, Dabrowski biopsied the lump. The preliminary report showed that it was cancer. The Canadian recalled that at this moment, her life "turned upside down."

She wrote:

"The preliminary results came back that day: cancer. These are words you never expect to hear, and in an instant your life or the life of a loved orle turns upside down."

Gabriela Dabrowski underwent two surgeries and took a three-month break from tennis, between April and June. She returned to the tour at the Nottingham Open in July and won the tournament with regular doubles partner Erin Routliffe. Dabrowski delayed further treatment to compete at Wimbledon, where she finished runner-up with Routliffe, and the Paris Olympics, where she won the bronze mixed doubles medal with Felix Auger-Aliassime.

The 32-year-old underwent radiation therapy before the US Open. Despite the physical toll of therapy and fatigue, Dabrowski reached the women's doubles quarterfinal in New York. She ended the year with more silverware after winning the WTA Finals title in Riyadh with Routliffe.

In her post, the Canadian mentioned that she did not reveal her diagnosis sooner because she wanted to avoid questions and attention. However, she felt that it was important for other women to learn about her survival journey.

"Why am I sharing my story now? For a long time, I wasn't ready to expose myself to the possible attention and questions I'd have gotten before. I wanted to figure everything out and handle things privately with only those closest to me in the loop."

The two-time mixed doubles Grand Slam champion also said she now understands her treatment better and acknowledged that she is fortunate to have had a lot of support through this ordeal.

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Gabriela Dabrowski highlights importance of early detection; "thanks" cancer for giving her new lens on life

Gabriela Dabrowski (Source: Getty)

Gabriela Dabrowski emphasized the importance of early detection in helping cancer patients maintain a better quality of life. The Canadian revealed that early on in her journey, she felt like cancer had become a part of her identity, but as her treatment progressed, that feeling faded, and she now proudly calls herself a "survivor."

"Early on in my diagnosis I was afraid of cancer becoming a part of my identity forever. I don't feel that way anymore. It is a privilege to be able to call myself a survivor."

Dabrowski felt that cancer gave her a new perspective on life and made her look at things from a "lens of gratitude." She thanked her parents, friends, coaches, doubles partner Erin Routliffe, and doctors for supporting her through this hardship.

You can read Gabriela Dabrowski's full account of her cancer diagnosis below:

Dabrowski is yet to kick off her 2025 season. She has not featured in the main draw lists of any of the warmup tournaments before the Australian Open and is expected to be seen in Melbourne alongside Erin Routliffe. The duo reached the women's doubles semifinals at the 2024 Australian Open.