Iga Swiatek beats Elena Rybakina to win Canadian Open 2026
Iga Swiatek ended a difficult season on a high by defeating Elena Rybakina 6-2, 6-3 in the final of the Canadian Open in Toronto, securing her first WTA title of 2026.
Backed by strong crowd support, the Polish star produced one of her cleanest performances of the year to beat the world No. 2 in just 1 hour and 15 minutes and lift the trophy for the first time in Canada.
The victory is Swiatek’s 26th career singles title and moves her back into the top five of the WTA rankings ahead of the U.S. Open.
Swiatek took control early against a Rybakina who struggled to find rhythm from the baseline. The Australian Open champion committed 12 unforced errors in the opening set, allowing Swiatek to break serve twice and establish a commanding lead.
Crucially, Swiatek also saved both break points she faced in the first set, preventing Rybakina from building any momentum.
Second Set Control
Rybakina briefly led 2-1 in the second set, but Swiatek immediately wrestled back control. The former world No. 1 won five of the final six games, repeatedly forcing errors with her depth and movement before serving out the match to become champion.
Rybakina finished with:
- 1 ace
- 4 double faults
- 13 winners
- 23 unforced errors
After the match, the Kazakh acknowledged that her level was not high enough against an opponent who played with far greater consistency.
Emotional victory after difficult months
Swiatek admitted the title carried extra significance because of the challenges she has faced throughout 2026. Since winning Wimbledon last year, she has endured a frustrating run at the majors, reaching only the quarter-finals in Melbourne, the fourth round at Roland Garros and the third round at Wimbledon.
She also spoke openly about dealing with constant public scrutiny while trying to improve her game, saying the process had not been easy but that she was proud to keep working through it.
Coaching changes beginning to show?
In April, Swiatek added Spanish coach Francisco Roig to her team. Roig previously worked with Rafael Nadal and Emma Raducanu, and Toronto may provide the first major sign that the adjustments being made to Swiatek’s game are starting to pay off.
Her serving, return depth and willingness to attack short balls were noticeably sharper throughout the week.
US Open Boost
The timing of the title is significant. Swiatek arrives in New York with renewed confidence and momentum after ending her trophy drought at one of the final WTA 1000 events before the U.S. Open.
For Rybakina, the defeat ends an excellent Canadian run that included consecutive three-set victories over Naomi Osaka and Coco Gauff, but she remains one of the leading contenders for the final Grand Slam of the season.
Shelton defends Canadian Crown
In the men’s draw, Ben Shelton successfully defended his Canadian Open title with a 6-3, 7-6(4) victory over fellow American Brandon Nakashima in Montreal.
Shelton became the first player since Rafael Nadal in 2019 to retain the Canadian Open title and the first champion since Novak Djokovic in 2016 to win the tournament without dropping a set.
The 23-year-old said the unbeaten run reflected both the work he has put in and the mental toughness he showed throughout the week.
Boulter earns first Cincinnati win
Elsewhere, Britain’s Katie Boulter claimed her first career main-draw victory at the Cincinnati Open, defeating American Katie Volynets 7-5, 0-6, 6-4. She will next face Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova in the second round.
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