Iga Swiatek was full of confidence heading into the National Bank Open’s final match on Thursday. With an impressive 25-5 record in WTA Tour finals, the Polish seventh seed excels under pressure. Dominating from the start, she secured a convincing 6-2, 6-3 win over Elena Rybakina at Sobeys Stadium in Toronto on a beautiful summer evening.
Expressing her focus, Swiatek remarked, “I was really in the zone and aimed to make the match physically demanding.” She took an early lead by breaking Rybakina’s serve in the first set, capitalizing on the Kazakh’s double faults. Throughout the match, Swiatek effectively controlled the baseline exchanges, neutralizing Rybakina’s potent forehand with strategic play.
Clinching another break in the second set at 2-2, Swiatek wrapped up the match in a swift 75 minutes. Rybakina acknowledged Swiatek’s ability to seize rally opportunities, turning the tide in her favor. This victory marked Swiatek’s first tournament triumph since winning in Seoul in September last year, making her the sole player to claim a WTA 1000 title in each of the last six seasons.
Swiatek is set to climb two spots to World No. 6 in the latest rankings, while Rybakina, the second seed, will maintain her No. 2 position. Reflecting on her journey, Swiatek expressed gratitude and emotional satisfaction, emphasizing the significance of defeating top-tier opponents.
The win earned Swiatek her 26th WTA Tour title, securing a share of the $7.43 million US prize pool, with a $1.09 million payout. Rybakina received approximately $565,000 for her runner-up finish. In other results, Katerina Siniakova and Shuai Zhang claimed the doubles title, defeating Sara Errani and Nicole Melichar-Martinez.
Meanwhile, in the men’s event, Ben Shelton successfully defended his title, defeating Brandon Nakashima in an all-American final in Montreal. The fifth-seeded Shelton, with seven career ATP Tour victories, showcased exceptional form throughout the tournament, not dropping a set.
Shelton’s impressive performance earned him the sixth spot in the ATP rankings and marked his second consecutive ATP Masters 1000 title. The victory made him the first male player to defend the Canadian Open title since Rafael Nadal in 2019.
Shelton’s dominant serve and flawless performance were highlighted in his swift victory, serving at 230 kilometers per hour without facing a break point. Nakashima commended Shelton’s exceptional level of play and predicted a bright future for the rising star.
In doubles, Rafael Matos and Orlando Luz emerged victorious over Mate Pavic and Marcelo Arevalo after a thrilling contest. The article also mentioned the absence of immediate plans to install a retractable roof at Toronto’s venue, contrasting with Montreal’s proposed modernization project at IGA Stadium.
The National Bank Open faced weather challenges during both the WTA and ATP Tour events, leading to schedule adjustments. The potential Montreal stadium upgrade aims to enhance the tournament’s facilities and spectator capacity. Overall, the event saw record attendance, with approximately 215,000 fans attending the women’s tournament in Toronto.