Iga Swiatek approached the National Bank Open title match with confidence, holding a strong track record of 25-5 in WTA Tour final appearances. The Polish seventh seed demonstrated her prowess by decisively defeating Elena Rybakina 6-2, 6-3 at Sobeys Stadium in Toronto on a beautiful summer evening.
Swiatek, expressing her focus during the match, mentioned, “I was really in the zone and aimed to make the match physical.” She took an early lead in the first set by breaking Rybakina’s serve, leveraging her skills at the net and maintaining a solid defensive game. Throughout the match, Rybakina struggled to find her rhythm, with Swiatek dominating most exchanges.
Securing another crucial break in the second set at 2-2, Swiatek sealed the victory in a swift 75 minutes. This triumph marked Swiatek’s first tournament win since Seoul in September last year, making her the sole player to claim a WTA 1000 title in each of the past six seasons.
With this win, Swiatek was projected to climb two spots to No. 6 in the latest world rankings, while Rybakina, the second seed, maintained her No. 2 position. Swiatek’s victory also earned her a $1.09 million share of the $7.43 million overall prize purse, while Rybakina received around $565,000.
In the men’s final, Ben Shelton successfully defended his National Bank Open title by defeating Brandon Nakashima 6-3, 7-6 (4) in Montreal. Shelton’s exceptional performance throughout the tournament, including a flawless service game and strategic play, earned him his seventh career ATP Tour victory.
Looking ahead, tournament director Karl Hale indicated that Toronto currently has no plans to install a retractable roof similar to the one proposed for Montreal’s IGA Stadium. The proposed modernization project in Montreal aims to enhance the venue’s facilities and increase seating capacity, reflecting Tennis Canada’s commitment to upgrading the event experience for fans and players.