Iga Swiatek cruises past Elena Rybakina to capture Canadian Open title

Toronto – Iga Swiatek secured her maiden title of the season with an impressive 6-2, 6-3 victory over Elena Rybakina at the Canadian Open final on Thursday. The win provided a morale boost for the Pole as she heads into the U.S. Open. This marked Swiatek's first final in the U.S. Open tune-up event, and she received enthusiastic support from the Toronto crowd chanting her name throughout the match.

The Polish champion, a six-time Grand Slam winner, expressed feeling angry after the win, citing criticism from media back home following an inconsistent season where she failed to advance past the quarterfinals at a Grand Slam and had to replace her coach. Swiatek acknowledged that it hadn't been easy but emphasized her ability to maintain composure and focus, stating she was proud to have won the match.

The Pole showcased her sharpness and speed on the hard court in Toronto, while Rybakina, the world No. 2, appeared to be her own worst enemy for much of the evening. Rybakina, who was broken twice in the opening set, struggled with her serve, delivering only one ace throughout the match. Swiatek broke her again in the second set to take a 3-2 lead.

Despite dropping the next game, Swiatek closed out the final three games with confidence, landing a clean strike on match point to end her title drought. Swiatek praised Rybakina's potential, emphasizing the importance of seizing opportunities and avoiding mistakes. Fatigue had taken its toll on Rybakina, who had played three hours more than Swiatek prior to their match due to her previous three matches going to three sets.

Rybakina admitted to lacking concentration, particularly on top of the net. With the Canadian title, world No. 8 Swiatek is set to return to the top five in the rankings.