Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina will renew one of women’s tennis’ most compelling rivalries after both survived demanding three-set semi-finals to reach the Canadian Open final in Toronto.
The championship match will be the 13th meeting between the pair, with their head-to-head record perfectly balanced at six wins each, adding another intriguing chapter to a rivalry that has become one of the most evenly contested on the WTA Tour.
Swiatek secured her place in the final with a 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 victory over Elina Svitolina, overcoming a dramatic momentum shift after dominating the opening set before losing the second convincingly.
The result marks a significant breakthrough for the former world number one, who is contesting her first WTA final of the 2026 season after a difficult campaign.
“It hasn’t been an easy season, probably the toughest one in my life,” Swiatek said. “This week has been really positive and inspirational for me, and it always shows that you need to keep going no matter what.”
Rybakina also had to recover from a slow start, rallying from a set down to defeat Coco Gauff 5-7, 6-2, 6-2. The Australian Open champion found her rhythm in the second set, winning four consecutive games before taking control of the contest.
The victory followed another comeback performance in the quarter-finals against Naomi Osaka, highlighting Rybakina’s resilience throughout the tournament.
“I feel like in the first set we were playing well but then I rushed it a little bit,” Rybakina said. “I’m just glad that I managed to win again in three sets.”
The final carries added significance because Rybakina won their most recent meeting, defeating Swiatek in straight sets during the quarter-finals of the Australian Open earlier this year.
“It’s going to again be a very difficult match, and we know each other so well,” Rybakina said. “In my case, it’s more about the recovery after so many hours on the court and bringing as much energy as I can.”
Meanwhile, the men’s final in Montreal will feature an all-American showdown between defending champion Ben Shelton and Brandon Nakashima.
Shelton advanced with a straight-sets victory over Learner Tien as he seeks to retain his Canadian Open title and claim the seventh ATP trophy of his career.
Nakashima, who also won in straight sets against Rafael Jodar, is aiming for the biggest title of his career and his first Masters 1,000 crown.
