Former world number one Iga Swiatek claimed her first title of the 2026 season after defeating Elena Rybakina 6-2, 6-3 in the WTA 1000 final in Toronto.
The six-time Grand Slam champion had struggled to reach her best level this year, failing to make a final before the Canadian tournament and exiting Wimbledon in the third round. However, she produced a dominant performance against Rybakina to secure her first Canadian title.
Swiatek controlled the match from the beginning, breaking Rybakina twice in the opening set before taking it comfortably. She continued to dictate the second set, breaking for a 3-2 lead before securing another break in the final game to complete the victory.
The triumph is Swiatek’s 12th WTA 1000 title and will see her climb from eighth back into the world’s top five ahead of her title defence in Cincinnati and the US Open later this month.
Rybakina entered the final after a demanding run that included four three-set matches, with her semi-final against Coco Gauff finishing around 1am. The Australian Open champion admitted she was short of energy in the final and struggled with concentration.
Despite the defeat, Rybakina’s run in Toronto has moved her closer to world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the rankings.
Watch MaltaSport Podcast 👇
