At the National Bank Open in Toronto, Iga Świątek made an emphatic statement to those who have doubted her. The win became her 12th from the 14 WTA 1000 finals she’s played in her career .
For the former world No. 1, the Toronto victory was her first title in what’s so far been a tough year.
Świątek set the bar so high in her finest season, 2022. By winning Roland-Garros and the US Open, she became the first woman since Angelique Kerber in 2016 to claim more than one slam in a calendar year.
She won another six tournaments that year, including four consecutive WTA 1000s.
In the next three years, she collected another three grand slams plus the 2023 WTA Finals and ten other tournaments.
After such success, she has contended with criticism from some tennis fans for her performance this year.
Her best grand slam result in 2026 has been a quarter final at the Australian Open. At Roland-Garros, the slam she has won a remarkable four times, she bowed out in the fourth round. Next she couldn’t defend her title at Wimbledon, going out in the third round to 29th seed Alexandra Eala, 6-7(11), 2-6.
Although she began the year as a member of Poland’s winning team at the United Cup, she had not made a final of any individual event.
That changed at Toronto. In her matches on the way to the final, she allowed opponents, Sára Bejlek, Viktorija Golubic and Diana Shnaider, just three games each. Only Marta Kostyuk and Elina Svitolina were able to take her to three sets.
Fellow finalist Elena Rybakina had a more difficult time making her way through the draw. She fought three-setters to overcome Daria Kastakina, Liudmila Samsonova, Naomi Osaka and Coco Gauff, while Ann Li was defeated in straight sets.
Rybakina could be further excused for any fatigue in the final due to her semi finishing at 1 am that morning.
Seventeen hours later, the championship match between 2nd seed Rybakina and 7th seed Świątek commenced.
The Pole looked light and bouncy on her feet, as she had all week.
She reached 5-2 with double break then held to seize the first set in exactly 30 minutes.
The second set was on serve for 2-2, before Świątek broke and consolidated to lead 4-2. Rybakina lifted with a couple of exceptional groundstroke winners – a flat backhand cross court and a forehand in the opposite direction. She went on the win the game against the flow.
Świątek resolved to thwart any comeback, serving her way to 5-3. In the final game, Rybakina persisted to deuce, but the eventual champion claimed the next two points with winners off each side.
Immediately Świątek raised her arms in victory, then patted her heart and pointed to her head as she looked intently at her team.
Surprisingly, the Queen of Aces Rybakina had managed only one for the match but threw in four double faults.
In her finalist’s speech, she gave a succinct summary of the match, “I tried my best but it wasn’t enough.”
Świątek also did not say much about the actual match, but still had a lot to express.
In gratitude, she singled out Francisco “Francis” Roig, her coach since May. “Thank you to Francis, who’s probably flying to Cinicinatti right now. Sorry that I have to win the first title with you when you weren’t here.”
Taking on her critics she said, “I’m really happy about this tournament, it means so, so much to me because 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…” – she paused for several moments as the crowd cheered louder – “I’m happy that the reality is different… I have people who know me so well and people that support me, every week, every day, they’re here to do their best work, keep pushing. So thank you to the team that is here.”
She concluded by returning to the theme of internet pile-ons. “I want to dedicate this title to everyone who’s dealing with unfair judgement and hate. Just keep pushing, keep growing, keep focusing on yourself because you know what’s the best for you. And always remember what’s ahead and what might be possible…”
Title photo by Mark Blinch / Wick Photography / National Bank Open presented by Rogers
Update
At their next tournament, the Cincinnati Open, Elena Rybakina retired at 1-4 in her quarterfinal against Iga Świątek due to an ankle injury.
Świątek then lost a close semifinal to Jessica Pegula, another of her main hardcourt rivals. Pegula won 7-5, 4-6, 6-4.