Swiatek defeats Rybakina to claim Canadian Open title

TORONTO, Aug 13: Iga Swiatek secured her maiden title of the season with a dominant 6-2, 6-3 victory over Elena Rybakina in the Canadian Open final on Thursday. This win provides a confidence boost for the Pole as she heads into the U.S. Open. It marked Swiatek's first final at the U.S. Open tune-up event, and she received enthusiastic support from the Toronto crowd chanting "Iga! Iga!" throughout the match, with a few Polish flags waving in the stands.

The six-time Grand Slam champion expressed feeling angry after the win, citing criticism from media back home amidst an inconsistent season. Swiatek stated, "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 emphasized her ability to maintain composure and focus, stating, "I'm happy that I kept my composure, kept my focus, and I keep growing every month no matter what the challenges."

Swiatek praised her performance on the hard court in Toronto, while acknowledging Rybakina as her own adversary during the match. Rybakina, the world number two, was broken twice in the opening set and struggled to maintain a consistent level of play, committing 12 unforced errors in the first set. She also failed to capitalize on her serve, only managing one ace throughout the match.

With this victory, 25-year-old Swiatek will climb back into the world rankings' top five.