Iga Swiatek reached her first final of the season at the Canadian Open on Wednesday, rallying from a deficit in the deciding set to defeat Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina 6-3, 1-6, 6-3. The victory marks a significant turning point for the former world number one, who previously triumphed at the 2022 U.S. Open in Flushing Meadows.
The match saw Swiatek claim a rain-delayed opening set before Svitolina surged back, breaking the Pole twice to dominate the second. Although Svitolina secured a 3-2 lead in the final set, Swiatek responded by winning four consecutive games to clinch the match. Reflecting on her recovery, Swiatek told the Tennis Channel that she focused on regaining her rhythm and composure. She noted that maintaining a clear plan during a match is challenging, but she remained confident throughout the third set.
Swiatek’s season has been marked by inconsistency, including a quarter-final exit at a Grand Slam and a coaching change following a second-round loss to Magda Linette in Miami. She now prepares to face Elena Rybakina, who earned her spot in the final by defeating Coco Gauff 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 in Wednesday’s other semi-final.
Gauff initially held the upper hand by taking a tight first set, but her performance faltered after dropping serve in the second. Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, capitalized on this momentum by winning five straight games to force a decider. The Kazakhstani player then broke twice in the third set and successfully fended off break points to secure the win.
This final sets up a rematch of a 2022 encounter in Toronto, where Gauff previously defeated Rybakina in three sets. World number two Rybakina acknowledged the difficulty of the matchup, noting that their previous meetings and practice sessions are always competitive. Having been pushed to three sets for the fourth time in this tournament, Rybakina expressed satisfaction with her ability to battle through the draw and reach the title match.
Open tune-up event after the Australian Open champion beat Coco Gauff 5-7 6-2 6-2.
Kazakhstan’s Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon winner, broke twice in quick succession to take command of the third set and fought off a couple of break points to serve out the win.
“It’s not easy to do that during ​a match – to keep your calm and your composure and follow the plan.
