\n<\/p>\n
Iga Swiatek will meet Elena Rybakina in the Canadian Open final after both players battled through their semi-finals in three sets.<\/b><\/p>\n
Six-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek withstood an Elina Svitolina comeback attempt to seal a 6-3 1-6 6-3 win in Toronto and reach her first WTA final of the season.<\/p>\n
The Pole, 25, has not reached a final since winning Cincinnati 12 months ago and had only reached one semi-final this year.<\/p>\n
“It hasn’t been an easy season, probably the toughest one in my life,” said seventh seed Swiatek. <\/p>\n
“This week has been really positive and inspirational for me, and it always kind of shows that you need to keep going no matter what.”<\/p>\n
Later, Australian Open champion Rybakina sealed her place in the final, despite losing the opening set to Coco Gauff.<\/p>\n
After winning four games in a row to clinch the second set, the world number two secured a 5-7 6-2 6-2 victory, having also come from behind to win her quarter-final<\/a> against Naomi Osaka.<\/p>\n “I feel like in the first set we were playing well but then I rushed it a little bit,” said 27-year-old Rybakina.<\/p>\n “I’m just glad that I managed to win again in three sets.”<\/p>\n Friday’s final will be the 13th professional meeting between Swiatek and Kazakh Rybakina, with both players winning six matches each to date. <\/p>\n In their last meeting – their only match of 2026 – Rybakina won in straight sets in the quarter-finals of her Australian Open-winning campaign.<\/p>\n On playing Swiatek, Rybakina said: “It’s going to again be a very difficult match, and we know each other so well. We play so many times.<\/p>\n “In my case, I feel it’s more again about the recovery after so many hours on the court, and bring as much energy as I can.”<\/p>\n In the Canadian Open men’s singles in Montreal, Ben Shelton will face fellow American Brandon Nakashima in the final after both players won their semi-finals in straight sets, against Learner Tien and Rafael Jodar respectively.<\/p>\n Victory for Nakashima would secure his first Masters 1,000 title and the most prestigious win of his career. <\/p>\n Shelton is looking to retain the title and win his seventh ATP tournament.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n