Swiatek reaches her first final of season at Canadian Open
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Iga Swiatek celebrates after reaching the Canadian Open final.
PHOTO: REUTERS
TORONTO – Iga Swiatek rallied from a break down in the deciding set to beat Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 at the Canadian Open on Aug 12, securing her place in a final for the first time this season.
The Pole will take on Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina for the title at the US Open tune-up event after the Australian Open champion beat Coco Gauff 5-7, 6-2, 6-2.
Swiatek, who won one of her six Grand Slam titles in Flushing Meadows in 2022, secured the rain-delayed first set before Svitolina turned the tables and broke the Pole twice in a one-sided second frame.
Svitolina broke to grab a 3-2 lead in the decider but former world No. 1 Swiatek reeled off the final four games to claim victory.
“After that second set I knew I had to do everything I could to get my rhythm and my game back,” she told Tennis Channel.
“It’s not easy to do that during a match – to keep your calm and your composure and follow the plan. I’m happy in the third set I did that and it paid off in the end. I didn’t doubt myself.”
Swiatek has had an inconsistent season in which she has failed to advance beyond the quarters at a Grand Slam and suffered a surprise second-round defeat by compatriot Magda Linette in Miami.
That loss led Swiatek to make a coaching change, replacing Wim Fissette with Francisco Roig.
She also lost to Alexandra Eala in the third round at Wimbledon, where she was defending champion.
In the other semi-final on Aug 12, Gauff edged a tight opening set but the American’s game fell apart after her serve was broken in the second, as Rybakina won five straight games to level the contest.
Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon winner, broke twice in quick succession to take command of the third set and fought off a couple of break points to serve out the win.
The only previous meeting between Gauff and Rybakina also came in Toronto in 2022, which the American won in three sets.
“Last time we played, it was such a battle and even in practice, it’s always a close match,” Rybakina said.
“I feel like in the first set we were playing well but then I rushed it a little bit. I’m just glad that I managed to win again in three sets,” added the world No. 2, who was taken to three sets for a fourth time in the tournament.
The Kazakh’s Canadian run has her inching closer to No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the rankings. REUTERS