Iga Swiatek defeated second-seeded Elena Rybakina 6-2, 6-3 on Thursday, August 13, to win the National Bank Open in Toronto and claim her first WTA Tour title of the year.
The seventh-seeded Polish player got off to a fast start, breaking Rybakina’s serve early and taking control of the opening set. Swiatek closed it out in just 29 minutes.
She continued to dominate in the second set, breaking Rybakina’s serve again at 2–2 before finishing the match in 75 minutes.
Swiatek’s consistency and movement proved decisive against Rybakina, one of the biggest servers on the tour. The Kazakh player, who leads the tour in aces, struggled to find her rhythm as Swiatek maintained the pressure with steady attacks and few unforced errors.
This victory marks Swiatek’s 26th WTA Tour title, adding another trophy to a season that hasn’t gone as smoothly as she had hoped.
“I’m a little speechless because the journey has been bumpy this season,” Swiatek said. “To be here, to hold the trophy, and to win against the best players means a lot.”
“I want to dedicate this title to everyone dealing with unfair judgment and hate,” she said. “Keep pushing, keep growing, and keep focusing on yourself because you know what’s best for you. Always remember what’s ahead and what might be possible.”
The six-time Grand Slam champion is projected to climb two places to No. 6 in the next world rankings, while Rybakina will remain at No. 2.
