Iga Swiatek approached Thursday’s championship match at the National Bank Open with confidence, boasting an impressive 25-5 record in WTA Tour finals. The Polish seventh seed demonstrated her prowess under pressure by defeating Elena Rybakina in a decisive 6-2, 6-3 victory at Sobeys Stadium in Toronto on a delightful summer evening.
Swiatek quickly gained the upper hand by breaking Rybakina’s serve early in the first set. Throughout the match, Swiatek skillfully controlled the game, utilizing her net play and defensive strategies to keep Rybakina on the defensive. The Kazakh player struggled to find her rhythm, allowing Swiatek to secure another break in the second set and wrap up the match in just 75 minutes.
This win marked Swiatek’s first tournament triumph since her victory in Seoul last year. With this victory, Swiatek became the sole player to claim a WTA 1000 title in each of the past six seasons. The victory also propelled Swiatek to an expected No. 6 ranking, while Rybakina, the second seed, maintained her No. 2 ranking.
Swiatek expressed her gratitude for the win, acknowledging the challenges she faced throughout the season. The victory earned Swiatek her 26th career WTA Tour title and a prize of $1.09 million from the total purse of $7.43 million. In the doubles final, Katerina Siniakova and Shuai Zhang defeated Sara Errani and Nicole Melichar-Martinez to clinch the title.
Meanwhile, in the men’s event, Ben Shelton successfully defended his National Bank Open title by defeating Brandon Nakashima in straight sets. Shelton’s victory marked his seventh career ATP Tour win and his second consecutive title at the Canadian Open. He showcased exceptional form throughout the tournament, dominating his opponents and not dropping a set.
Shelton’s impressive performance on serve, coupled with his clinical play and focused mindset, solidified his position as a top player in the tournament. The victory also saw Shelton rise to sixth in the ATP Tour rankings, making him the first male player to defend the Canadian Open title since Rafael Nadal in 2019.
The women’s and men’s finals concluded a successful tournament marked by challenging weather conditions that forced organizers to adapt. Despite the rain disruptions, the events drew significant crowds, with the women’s tournament setting a record attendance for WTA Toronto. As Tennis Canada explores modernization plans for the Montreal venue, Toronto remains focused on its current facilities.