Iga Swiatek clinches first 2026 title, beats Rybakina in Canadian Open final
Toronto, August 14
Poland's six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek claimed her first title of the 2026 season after defeating World No. 2 Elena Rybakina 6-2, 6-3 in the Canadian Open final in Toronto on Thursday, according to Olympics.com.
Iga Swiatek made a strong start against reigning Australian Open champion Rybakina, converting both of her break-point chances while saving both opportunities presented by her opponent.
The Polish World No. 8 continued her dominance in the second set, facing no break points and converting two of her three opportunities to seal victory in just 75 minutes.
"I want to dedicate this title to everyone who is dealing with unfair judgement and hate," Iga Swiatek, the Paris 2024 women's singles bronze medallist, said after the match, as quoted by Olympics.com
The victory also pushes Swiatek ahead 7-6 in their head-to-head on the WTA Tour Driven by Mercedes-Benz, snapping a two-match skid against Rybakina.
"Just keep pushing, keep growing, keep focusing on yourself because you know what's best for you. And always remember what's ahead and what might be possible," she added.
The title triumph in Toronto marked Swiatek's 12th WTA 1000 crown, moving her past Aryna Sabalenka (11) for the second-most since the format debuted in 2009. The former World No. 1 now trails only Serena Williams, who has 13 such titles.
This was the second time the two have met in a final, with both matches going Swiatek's way in straight sets. She is now 26-5 in WTA finals, the best win rate of any player with 20 or more WTA-level finals since the Tier format's introduction in 1990.
The six-time Grand Slam champion opened her campaign with a bagel and dropped just six games across her first two matches. After a comeback win over Marta Kostyuk in the Round of 16, Swiatek returned to dominance in a 6-1, 6-2 rout of Diana Shnaider in the quarterfinals. In the semis, Swiatek avenged a pair of three-set losses to Elina Svitolina earlier this season with a three-set victory of her own to reach the championship match.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Swiatek's mental strength is something else. She was down and out this year but she kept grinding. This win over Rybakina shows why she's one of the greatest of this generation. Straight sets, no drama!
Her speech about unfair judgement really resonated with me. In India, we see how quickly social media turns on athletes after a bad match. Swiatek is right—you have to ignore the noise and focus on your game. Brilliant performance! 👏👏
Lekin yaar, why is she ranked only World No. 8 with six Grand Slams? She should be higher. Anyway, great to see her back in form. That head-to-head lead over Rybakina is impressive too. Fully deserved win!
As a tennis fan from the US, I have to say this was a clinical performance. Rybakina is no pushover, but Swiatek made her look ordinary. 26-5 in finals is a ridiculous stat. She's back to her best just in time for the US Open!
The way she saved all break points in the second set was just flawless. 🎾 I hope Indian players take inspiration from her focus and dedication. We need that kind of mental toughness on our tennis circuit too!
S Sarah B