Swiatek races past Shnaider into Toronto semi-finals

Former world number one Iga Swiatek advanced to the Toronto Masters semi-finals on Monday, defeating Russian Diana Shnaider in just 64 minutes with a score of 6-2, 6-1. The Polish six-time Grand Slam champion will now face either Ukraine's Elina Svitolina or Russia's Ekaterina Alexandrova in the quarter-finals. At 25 years old, Swiatek has not reached a final since her 26th WTA tour title win at the Korea Open in Seoul nearly a year ago, and has since dropped to world number eight.

Swiatek held a firm grip on the match, breaking serve three times and saving 11 of 16 break points. Shnaider, a left-hander, attempted to fight back by hitting a backhand over the baseline, but it was too late as Swiatek took a 5-2 lead in the first set. Swiatek added another break in the second set when Shnaider missed a backhand, and she served out the match to clinch the first set in just 31 minutes.

Swiatek further broke Shnaider's forehand in the second set, resulting in a 2-1 lead. In the final game of the second set, Swiatek broke again when Shnaider sent a forehand long. Swiatek continued her strong performance in the third set, breaking Shnaider's forehand once more for a 4-1 advantage and again in the final game when Shnaider failed to return a forehand.