Toronto: Iga Swiatek ends title drought at Canadian Open
Swiatek secures Canadian Open title
Iga Swiatek ended an 11-month wait for a tour title by defeating Elena Rybakina in straight sets at the National Bank Open in Toronto. Swiatek secured her first title of the season with a 6-2, 6-3 victory. This win marks her 12th WTA 1000 crown, placing her ahead of Aryna Sabalenka for the second-most since the format’s introduction in 2009, trailing only Serena Williams.
The match saw Swiatek gain an early advantage in the first set when Rybakina committed back-to-back double faults, leading to a break point. Swiatek capitalized on this, maintaining her strong form throughout the tournament to win the opening set. Unforced errors continued to affect Rybakina in the second set, with two missed backhands gifting Swiatek another break. Although Rybakina saved one championship point, Swiatek converted her second opportunity to clinch the title.
This victory also shifts their head-to-head record on the WTA Tour Driven by Mercedes-Benz to 7-6 in Swiatek’s favour, breaking a two-match losing streak against Rybakina. It was the second time the two have met in a final, with Swiatek winning both in straight sets. She now holds a 26-5 record in WTA finals, which is the best win rate for any player with 20 or more WTA-level finals since the Tier format began in 1990.
Emotional victory and public scrutiny
After securing the title, Swiatek displayed intense emotion, screaming towards her team and pointing to her head. She later explained that her reaction stemmed from anger over the doubtful and disapproving voices she has encountered, particularly from viewers and media in Poland. Swiatek dedicated her victory to “everyone who is dealing with unfair judgement and hate,” encouraging them to “keep pushing, keep growing, keep focusing on yourself because you know what’s best for you.”
Swiatek, one of Poland’s most famous athletes, has faced significant public scrutiny, especially during a challenging period over the past two years. This scrutiny has intensified around her performance and her relationship with her team, including her psychologist, Daria Abramowicz. She noted that such unfair judgment is not exclusive to Poland, but is also present in other countries and sports, affecting both individual athletes and teams.
The tennis star has had to navigate the challenges of fame, including incidents with paparazzi near her home. She expressed a desire for cooperation, stating that she understands their job but expects privacy during her personal time. Swiatek emphasized that her goal is to prevent external negativity from disrupting her process and defining her identity, focusing instead on personal growth.
This title is particularly significant as it is her first in 11 months and her first alongside her new coach, Francisco Roig. The demands of the sport meant she had little time to celebrate, concluding her press duties around 10pm on Thursday before travelling to Cincinnati by midday on Friday for her title defence in Ohio.
Men’s final sees Shelton retain title
In the men’s draw, American Ben Shelton successfully defended his title in Montreal, defeating compatriot Brandon Nakashima 6-3, 7-6 (7-4). Shelton did not drop a set throughout the tournament, becoming the fourth man this century to win back-to-back titles at the event, joining Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic, and Rafael Nadal.
Shelton attributed his performance to his hard work and mental toughness, stating that his ability to focus through various challenges during the week was key. His victory underscores a period of strong form for the American player. Swiatek is projected to rise three spots to No. 5 in the PIF WTA Rankings following her win in Toronto.
With her triumph in Toronto, Swiatek has now secured all five major North American titles, including Indian Wells (2022, 2024), Miami (2022), US Open (2022), Cincinnati (2025), and Canada (2026). She is also three-fourths of the way to achieving a Career Slam, with only an Australian Open title remaining. Swiatek has won eight of the ten WTA 1000s available, with Dubai and Wuhan being the only two she has yet to claim. In total, she holds 19 Big Titles, including four Roland Garros titles, a US Open, a Wimbledon, and a WTA Finals championship.
Her confidence, which appeared shaken earlier in the 2026 season, seems to have been restored after her performance in Canada. She had not reached a final prior to Toronto and had slipped to No. 8 in the world rankings. Swiatek’s path to the final included a comeback win over Marta Kostyuk in the Round of 16 and a dominant 6-1, 6-2 victory against Diana Shnaider in the quarterfinals. In the semi-finals, she avenged previous losses to Elina Svitolina with a three-set win.
Rybakina, on the other hand, expressed feeling “destroyed” after a demanding run to the final, which included four three-set matches in five encounters. She double-faulted twice in the opening game of the final, giving Swiatek an early break. Despite a brief resistance in the second set, Rybakina was unable to recover, and Swiatek sealed the victory with a backhand winner.
Swiatek’s win also means she will jump two places to No. 10 in the Race to the WTA Finals as the season enters its final stretch. Rybakina, meanwhile, solidified her No. 2 ranking and continues to close the gap on Sabalenka in the race for the World No. 1 spot. The Australian Open champion is also set to move up two places to No. 1 in the Race to the WTA Finals, surpassing Mirra Andreeva.
Source: theguardian.com
Isla Hartley is a Sports Reporter at NewsUK. She covered the British summer of sport from Wimbledon to the Test grounds. She focuses on tennis, cricket and athletics and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. She holds a degree in Sports Studies from the University of Stirling and completed an NCTJ diploma. Now based in Glasgow, she runs half-marathons and follows Scottish athletics. “The overlooked athlete usually has the better story.”
