Iga Swiatek was full of confidence heading into the National Bank Open title match on Thursday. With a remarkable 25-5 record in WTA Tour final appearances, the Polish player excels in high-pressure situations. She dominated Elena Rybakina in a decisive 6-2, 6-3 victory under the evening lights at Sobeys Stadium in Toronto.
“I was really focused,” Swiatek commented after the match. “I aimed to make it a physical game.”
Swiatek took an early lead by breaking Rybakina’s serve in the first set, capitalizing on the Kazakh’s double faults. Throughout the match, Swiatek showcased her skills at the net and her solid defensive play, keeping Rybakina on the defensive and preventing her from finding a rhythm.
In the second set, Swiatek secured another crucial break at 2-2 before sealing the win in just 75 minutes. This victory marked Swiatek’s first tournament title since her triumph in Seoul last September, making her the sole player to win a WTA 1000 title in each of the last six seasons.
Her exceptional performance is expected to propel Swiatek up two spots to No. 6 in the latest world rankings. On the other hand, Rybakina, the second seed, will maintain her position at No. 2.
Swiatek’s 26th career WTA Tour title earned her a share of $1.09 million from the tournament’s total purse of $7.43 million. Rybakina, on the other hand, took home approximately $565,000.
In the doubles final, Katerina Siniakova from Czechia and Shuai Zhang from China defeated Sara Errani from Italy and Nicole Melichar-Martinez from the United States 6-3, 6-4 to claim the title.
The men’s final saw Ben Shelton successfully defend his National Bank Open title by defeating Brandon Nakashima 6-3, 7-6 (4) in an all-American showdown. This victory marked Shelton’s seventh career ATP Tour win, with the American player climbing to sixth in the tour’s rankings.
Shelton’s exceptional performance throughout the tournament, including his flawless serving and strategic play, solidified his position as a top contender. Nakashima, despite his efforts, fell short in his first career final at the 1000 level.
The tournament also featured the doubles final, where Rafael Matos from Brazil and Orlando Luz emerged victorious against Mate Pavic from Croatia and Marcelo Arevalo from El Salvador in a thrilling 5-7, 6-4, 10-6 battle.
Regarding venue enhancements, there are no immediate plans to install a retractable roof at IGA Stadium in Toronto, as Tennis Canada focuses on modernizing facilities in Montreal. The proposed project aims to increase centre court capacity and enhance the overall experience for players and spectators.
Both the women’s and men’s events faced weather challenges, leading to schedule adjustments throughout the 12-day competitions. Despite the obstacles, the tournaments showcased top-tier tennis talent and attracted record attendance, highlighting the sport’s popularity in Toronto and Montreal.