Iga Swiatek secured her first title of the 2026 season on Thursday, delivering a clinical 6-2, 6-3 performance against Elena Rybakina to win the Canadian Open in Toronto. The victory provides a significant momentum shift for the 25-year-old Pole as she prepares for the upcoming US Open.
Throughout the match, Swiatek was supported by a vocal crowd chanting her name, marking her first appearance in the final of this US Open lead-up tournament. Despite the celebratory atmosphere, Swiatek revealed to the Canadian network Sportsnet that she felt a sense of anger following the win. She acknowledged the difficulties of a turbulent season, which included a coaching change and early exits in Grand Slam quarterfinals, noting that she had faced significant criticism from media in her home country.
Reflecting on her emotional state, Swiatek remarked, “I think that’s the first time in my life I have something like that after a victory but it hasn’t been easy you know.” She added that she remained proud of her ability to maintain focus and composure despite the ongoing challenges, emphasizing her commitment to personal growth each month.
On the court, the 27-year-old Rybakina struggled to find her rhythm, hindered by 12 unforced errors in the first set alone. The Australian Open champion was unable to leverage her serve, managing only a single ace throughout the contest. Swiatek capitalized on these lapses, breaking Rybakina twice in the opening set and again in the second to establish a 3-2 lead. Although Swiatek dropped the following game, she regained control to win the final three games, clinching the match with a decisive strike.
Rybakina attributed her performance to physical exhaustion, noting that she had spent three hours more on court than Swiatek during the tournament due to three consecutive three-set matches. “I was just very tired. You could see that I wasn’t pushing with the legs enough,” she explained, citing a lack of concentration and frequent errors at the net. Swiatek, who will return to the world’s top five rankings following this win, praised her opponent, stating, “If she plays her best game she’s probably better than everyone. You need to use all the opportunities; you can’t let yourself make mistakes or bad decisions.”
“I’m happy that I kept my composure, kept my focus, and I keep growing every month no matter what the challenges and I’m super proud I could win this one.”
The Pole was sharp and fast on the hard court in Toronto while Kazakhstan’s Rybakina was her own enemy for much of the evening.
