Rybakina rallies past Gauff, sets up Swiatek Final in Toronto

Elena Rybakina continued her impressive run in Canada by fighting back to defeat Coco Gauff 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 and reach the final of the National Bank Open in Toronto.

The second seed recovered from a tight opening set and dominated the final two sets to complete the comeback shortly before 1 a.m. local time. She will now face former world No. 1 Iga Swiatek in a blockbuster WTA 1000 final that offers an early glimpse of potential US Open form.

Gauff edges the opening set

Gauff, the fourth seed, produced the stronger finish to the first set after leading 5-4 and eventually closing it out 7-5. Her serve was particularly effective during the early stages, limiting Rybakina’s opportunities on return.

Rybakina admitted afterwards that she rushed key moments late in the opener and knew she needed a much better start to the second set.

Momentum swings decisively

The Australian Open champion responded immediately. She broke early in the second set and then reeled off four consecutive games after briefly trailing 2-1, completely shifting the momentum of the match.

From that point onward, Rybakina’s first serve and aggressive returning began to dictate play, while Gauff struggled to hold serve consistently.

Rybakina pulls away in the decider

Rybakina carried her momentum into the third set and repeatedly pressured Gauff’s service games. She converted key chances and closed out the match with authority to secure her place in the final.

The victory marked her second consecutive comeback win after also rallying from a set down to beat Naomi Osaka in the quarter-finals.

Key Match Numbers

• Score: Rybakina def. Gauff 5-7, 6-2, 6-2
• Sets won after losing the opener: 2
• WTA 1000 final reached: Toronto 2026
• Titles in 2026: Australian Open, Stuttgart

Swiatek ends Svitolina challenge

Swiatek reached the championship match by defeating Elina Svitolina 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 in a rain-interrupted semi-final.

The Polish star started strongly, lost momentum completely in the second set, but recovered impressively after falling behind 3-2 in the decider. She won the final four games, including a break at love, to advance to her first final of the season.

The result improved Swiatek’s head-to-head record against Svitolina to 5-3.

Toronto Final: Power vs Precision

The final sets up one of the strongest possible matchups on the WTA Tour. Rybakina arrives with heavy serving, first-strike tennis and growing confidence after back-to-back comeback victories. Swiatek counters with relentless baseline pressure, elite movement and one of the most consistent defensive games in women’s tennis.

For Rybakina, the title would be her third of the season and another significant step toward the world No. 1 ranking. For Swiatek, it would end a title drought that stretches back almost a year.

US Open Implications

With the final Grand Slam of the season approaching, both players are being viewed as genuine contenders in New York. Their Toronto final is likely to be treated as more than just a WTA 1000 championship match, it is also a valuable measure of form, confidence and momentum heading into the US Open.

SportsLigue