Iga Swiatek defeated Elena Rybakina 6-2, 6-3 in the National Bank Open final in Toronto on Thursday, earning her first WTA Tour title of 2026 and the 26th title of her career.
The seventh-seeded Swiatek completed the victory over second-seeded Rybakina in 75 minutes. The result delivered an important title in a season Swiatek described as bumpy, while she is projected to rise two places to No. 6 in the new world rankings. Rybakina will remain No. 2.
Swiatek takes control early in Toronto final
Swiatek established control by breaking Rybakina’s serve early in the opening set. She went on to claim the set 6-2 in 29 minutes, putting herself in command of a final between two of the leading players in the field.
Rybakina entered the match with a reputation as one of the tour’s most effective servers and leads the tour in aces. But she struggled to settle into a rhythm against Swiatek, whose consistent attack, limited errors and court coverage kept pressure on the Kazakh player.
Swiatek said she was focused on making the contest demanding. “I was really in the zone,” Swiatek said. “I wanted to make the match physical.”
The Polish player maintained that advantage in the second set. After the score reached 2-2, Swiatek earned another break of serve and moved through the remaining games to close out a 6-3 set and the championship.
Rybakina acknowledged that she did not bring sufficient aggression or energy to the match. “I wasn’t playing aggressive enough and wasn’t playing with (enough) energy,” Rybakina said. “We all know she’s a fighter and she can run left and right much longer than me.”
A 26th career title and a rankings rise
The Toronto trophy is Swiatek’s first WTA Tour title of the year and adds to a career collection that now stands at 26. A six-time Grand Slam champion, she said the achievement carried particular meaning after the uneven path of her season.
“I’m speechless a little bit because the journey has been bumpy this season,” Swiatek said. “To be here and to hold the trophy and to win against the best players means a lot.”
Her straight-sets win over Rybakina capped the National Bank Open in Toronto and is set to move Swiatek up two positions to sixth in the updated rankings. Rybakina, despite finishing runner-up, will retain second place.
In the doubles final earlier Thursday, Katerina Siniakova and Shuai Zhang defeated Sara Errani and Nicole Melichar-Martinez 6-3, 6-4.
For Swiatek, the title provides a decisive Toronto finish: an early break, a 29-minute opening set and a composed second-set close against the tournament’s second seed. It also marks her return to the winner’s circle on the WTA Tour in 2026.
