Iga Swiatek displayed confidence heading into the National Bank Open final on Thursday, boasting a strong track record in WTA Tour finals with a 25-5 record. The Polish seventh seed dominated the match against Elena Rybakina, securing a 6-2, 6-3 victory under the lights at Sobeys Stadium in Toronto.
Swiatek’s aggressive playstyle was evident as she swiftly broke Rybakina’s serve in the first set and maintained control throughout the match. Employing a mix of net skills and solid defense, Swiatek kept Rybakina on the defensive, ultimately securing her first tournament title since her win in Seoul last year.
The victory marked Swiatek’s 26th career WTA Tour title, earning her a significant portion of the $7.43 million prize purse. With this win, Swiatek is set to climb two spots to No. 6 in the world rankings. On the men’s side, Ben Shelton successfully defended his National Bank Open title by defeating Brandon Nakashima in straight sets, showcasing exceptional serving and clinical play.
The event also featured the doubles final, where Katerina Siniakova and Shuai Zhang triumphed over Sara Errani and Nicole Melichar-Martinez. Meanwhile, discussions around upgrading the tournament venue in Montreal with a retractable roof were highlighted, with Toronto currently not considering similar modifications to its stadium.
Despite weather challenges during the tournaments in Toronto and Montreal, the competitions saw impressive performances and exciting matches, drawing record attendance and setting the stage for future enhancements in the world of professional tennis.
