news-engine

TORONTO - Iga Swiatek ended her title drought in emphatic fashion by defeating Elena Rybakina 6-2, 6-3 to win her maiden Canadian Open crown on Thursday, securing her first title of the 2026 season and gaining valuable momentum ahead of the US Open. The six-time Grand Slam champion produced a clinical display in her first-ever final at the prestigious Toronto event, dominating from the baseline and capitalising on an error-prone performance from the Australian Open champion. Swiatek broke Rybakina twice in the opening set while saving two break points to seize control of the contest. The Kazakh struggled to find her rhythm, committing a series of unforced errors and failing to make her usually formidable serve count, managing just one ace throughout the match. The second set followed a similar pattern as Swiatek earned another crucial break for a 3-2 lead before confidently winning the final three games to seal victory and end months of frustration. Despite the triumph, the Polish star admitted the victory brought mixed emotions after enduring criticism in her homeland during an inconsistent season that included an early Grand Slam exits and a coaching change. “I’m proud that I stayed composed, remained focused and kept improving despite all the challenges,” Swiatek said after the match. Swiatek also praised Rybakina’s quality, describing her as one of the toughest opponents on the WTA Tour when at her best. Rybakina acknowledged fatigue played a significant role in the defeat after spending considerably more time on court than Swiatek during the tournament. She admitted lapses in concentration and mounting unforced errors prevented her from producing her best tennis. SHELTON DEFENDS CANADIAN OPEN CROWN IN ALL-AMERICAN FINAL Ben Shelton successfully defended his Canadian Open title with a commanding 6-3, 7-6(4) victory over fellow American Brandon Nakashima in the final, capturing his second ATP Masters 1000 crown and the seventh title of his career. The fifth seed completed a flawless week without dropping a set, becoming the first player since Novak Djokovic in 2016 to achieve the feat at the Canadian Open and the first since Rafael Nadal in 2019 to successfully defend the title. Shelton dominated the opening set by relentlessly attacking Nakashima’s second serve before holding his nerve in a closely contested second-set tie-break to seal victory with a superb forehand winner. The triumph marked a remarkable turnaround for Shelton, who had endured a difficult season with early exits at Wimbledon and Roland Garros and just one win in his first four Masters 1000 events. “Winning this title without dropping a set reflects the hard work and mental toughness I’ve developed,” Shelton said.