Iga Swiatek rolls past Elena Rybakina for her first title of the year

TORONTO – Former world No. 1 Iga Swiatek dedicated her first title of 2026 to everyone “dealing with judgment and hate” after capturing the Canadian Open crown in Toronto on Aug 13.

Playing in her first final of the year, the six-time Grand Slam champion roared past a weary-looking Elena Rybakina 6-2, 6-3 to win the WTA 1000 event.

Swiatek, who saw her Wimbledon title defence end in the third round in July, 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 world No. 8 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,” the Pole 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.”

Finally, she said: “I want to dedicate this title to everyone who is dealing with judgment and hate. Just keep growing... and always remember what’s ahead and what might be possible.”

Swiatek’s efficient serve performance, polished defence and timely attacks were far too much for Kazakhstan’s Rybakina, who was taken to three sets in four of her five prior matches and did not finish her three-set semi-final win over Coco Gauff until 1am.

The 27-year-old got off to a sluggish start, gifting Swiatek a break in the opening game with a pair of double faults.

“I didn’t have much energy. I tried my best, but it wasn’t enough,” she said.

“I was just very tired... You could see that I wasn’t pushing with the legs enough. There was a lot of unforced errors, especially on top of the net.

“It was just pure lack of concentration. Even on those kinds of easy balls, too.”

Rybakina steadied to hold at love in her next two service games, but after she 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 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.

“Iga, she’s a tough opponent,” Rybakina said. “She’s playing really well in defence, she can take the opportunity during the rally and turn it around.”

While it did not yield a title, Rybakina’s run in Canada has her inching closer to world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the rankings.

Rybakina said it is not something she cares to focus on, even though it would “mean a lot” to be world No. 1.

“I know for me, even if you say by the ranking it’s close, for me it still feels very far,” she said. “So I’m not thinking about it so much.”

In Montreal, Ben Shelton won the Canadian Open for a second straight year with a 6-3, 7-6 (7-4) victory over fellow American Brandon Nakashima on Aug 13, claiming his second Masters 1000 crown and picking up a seventh career title.

The all-American final was the first at the Masters 1000 level since Andy Roddick beat Mardy Fish in Cincinnati in 2003 and offered an encouraging sign for US men’s tennis ahead of the US Open, where the country has not had a men’s singles champion since Roddick’s triumph that same year.

“To play the way that I’ve played this week, to go through this draw without dropping a set, I think it speaks a lot to the work that I’ve been putting in, but it speaks a lot to my mental toughness,” Shelton said. AFP