Iga Swiatek is headed to her first WTA final of the season after beating Elina Svitolina 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 at the National Bank Open on Wednesday in Toronto.
The seventh-seeded Polish player will oppose second-seeded Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan for the title on Thursday. Rybakina rallied past fourth-seeded Coco Gauff 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 in the second semifinal.
Swiatek last advanced to a title match at Cincinnati in 2025. She has won each of her past six WTA 1000 finals and a 25-5 mark overall when playing for a championship.
Swiatek had only been in one individual semifinal before Wednesday, when she lost to Svitolina in mid-May on clay in Rome.
“Obviously you know it hasn’t been an easy season, probably the toughest one in my life,” Swiatek said postmatch on court. “… This week has been really positive and inspirational for me, and it always kind of shows that you need to keep going, you know, no matter what. …
“I’m happy that the team is supporting me through the worst times, in the good times. It really means a lot. Without them for sure I wouldn’t be here.”
Svitolina, the ninth seed in Toronto, also defeated Swiatek in the quarterfinals at Indian Wells, Calif., this year. On Wednesday, the Ukrainian amassed 19 break points in Swiatek’s serve but converted only five of them.
Swiatek also broke serve five times, on 13 opportunities.
Rybakina is looking to capture a third tournament title of the year, having won the Australian Open and the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, Germany.
Her success this week ends a midseason slump that saw her lose in the second round of the French Open and in the third round at Wimbledon.
Gauff got her lone service break of the match in the final game of the first set. Rybakina won the last five games of the second set, then repeated that feat in the third set.
Rybakina and Swiatek have split 12 career meetings. The Kazakhstani won their lone matchup this year, a 7-5, 6-1 decision in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open.
“She has been playing well,” Rybakina said of Swiatek. “It’s going to again be a very difficult match, and we know each other so well. We play so many times. So in my case, I feel it’s more again about the recovery after so many hours on the court, and bring as much energy as I can.”
–Field Level Media
