Swiatek Sets Up Toronto Final Against Rybakina After Beating Svitolina

Iga Swiatek has reached the Toronto Open final after overcoming Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina in three sets to set up a title clash with world number two Elena Rybakina.

In a report by Al Jazeera, the former world number one defeated Svitolina 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 in a rain-delayed semi-final, while Australian Open champion Rybakina rallied to defeat fourth seed Coco Gauff 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 and secure her place in Thursday’s final.

Swiatek, the seventh seed, is appearing in her first final of the year and her first title decider since she won in Seoul nearly a year ago.

The victory improved her head-to-head record against Svitolina to 5-3 after the Ukrainian had won their previous two meetings this year.

Swiatek made a strong start after the match was delayed by more than an hour because of rain, racing into a 4-0 lead in the opening set.

Svitolina fought back and forced Swiatek to work to close out the set, saving two set points before the Pole eventually secured it.

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The Ukrainian responded emphatically in the second set, racing through it 6-1 to level the match.

Swiatek regained control in the deciding set, breaking Svitolina to love for a 5-3 advantage before serving out the match to reach the final.

“Against Elina it’s always tough, so I’m happy that I won this one,” Swiatek said.

She added that improving her level in the deciding set represented “a big improvement” and said she was proud of her performance.

Svitolina, the 2017 Canadian champion, had been targeting her third WTA 1000 final of the season after winning in Rome and finishing runner-up in Dubai.

Rybakina, meanwhile, produced another comeback victory against Gauff after also recovering from a set down to beat Naomi Osaka in the quarter-finals.

The Kazakh, who won the Australian Open earlier this year and also lifted the title in Stuttgart, is now one victory away from securing her third title of the season.

Her run in Toronto has also strengthened her position in the rankings as she closes the gap on world number one Aryna Sabalenka with the US Open beginning on August 31.

Rybakina completed her victory over Gauff shortly before 1am local time, capitalising on the American’s struggles under pressure on serve.

Rybakina said Gauff had served strongly in the opening set but credited her improved returns and quicker start in the second set for turning the match around.

While Rybakina had been forced to play her way past Osaka in the quarter-finals, Gauff reached the semi-finals through a walkover.

The Kazakh said the additional time she had spent on court during the tournament may have helped her maintain her intensity, particularly during key moments of the deciding set.

Rybakina will now face Swiatek in Thursday’s final, with both players chasing their first Toronto title.