Iga Swiatek showcased her dominance in the National Bank Open final, displaying her prowess with a 25-5 record in WTA Tour final matches. The Polish seventh seed defeated Elena Rybakina with a decisive 6-2, 6-3 win at Sobeys Stadium in Toronto. Swiatek’s strategic play and strong net skills kept Rybakina on the defensive throughout the match. The victory marked Swiatek’s first tournament title since her win in Seoul last year, making her the only player to secure a WTA 1000 title in each of the past six seasons.
With this triumph, Swiatek is expected to climb two spots to No. 6 in the world rankings, while Rybakina will maintain her No. 2 position. Swiatek expressed her gratitude for the victory, highlighting the challenges she faced this season. The win earned Swiatek a prize of $1.09 million from the total purse of $7.43 million, with Rybakina receiving around $565,000.
In the men’s final, Ben Shelton successfully defended his title, defeating Brandon Nakashima 6-3, 7-6 (4) in Montreal. Shelton’s victory marked his seventh career ATP Tour win and his second consecutive title at the National Bank Open. The American player’s exceptional performance showcased his serving prowess, clocking speeds of 230 kilometers per hour without facing a break-point chance, securing his victory in just one hour and 27 minutes.
The 23-year-old Shelton’s remarkable form continued throughout the tournament, with a flawless run without dropping a set. Nakashima, the 28th seed, struggled to match Shelton’s intensity, winning only 17% of return points. Shelton’s impressive display on the court solidified his status as a top contender in the ATP Tour.
The day also saw Brazil’s Rafael Matos and Orlando Luz triumph over Croatia’s Mate Pavic and El Salvador’s Marcelo Arevalo in the doubles final. Meanwhile, tournament director Karl Hale revealed that there are currently no immediate plans for Toronto to implement a retractable roof at IGA Stadium, focusing instead on Montreal’s modernization project. Hale commended the success of the National Bank Open, noting a record attendance of about 215,000 for the WTA Toronto event this year.