Toronto (Canada) (AFP) – Former world number one Iga Swiatek captured her first title of the year on Thursday, roaring past a weary-looking Elena Rybakina 6-2, 6-3 to win the WTA 1000 in Toronto. Swiatek, a six-time Grand Slam champion, hadn’t even reached a final in 2026 and saw her Wimbledon title defense end in the third round. She was in control throughout against second-ranked Australian Open winner Rybakina on the way to a first Canadian crown.
After securing a victory that will see her rise from eighth in the world back into the top five with the US Open approaching, the 25-year-old had some words for the doubters who have contributed to what she has called her toughest on-court year. “It means so, so much to me,” she said as she accepted her 12th 1000-level trophy. “All these past months were not easy. I’m really happy that I kept focusing on growing, changing my game a little bit, improving despite all the opinions that many people have about me every day on the internet. It’s not easy to deal with all of that. So I’m really happy that the reality is different. I have people that know me so well and people that support me every week, every day … so thank you to the team.”
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Rybakina had been on court until 1 am in polishing off a semi-final win over Coco Gauff and got off to a sluggish start, gifting Swiatek a break in the opening game with a pair of double faults. She shook it off to hold at love in her next two service games, but after Rybakina failed to convert a pair of break chances in the sixth game, Swiatek broke her again for a 5-2 lead to find herself serving for the opening set after barely more than 20 minutes.
Swiatek, looking supremely confident on serve, pocketed the set with a love game, delivering a swerving second-serve winner on set point. She was largely untroubled in the second, taking control with a break for 3-2 and breaking Rybakina again in the final game with a backhand winner on her second match point.
© 2024 AFP
