Iga Świątek reaches Toronto final after three-set comeback against Elina Switolina

Tournament context and semifinal pairing

The WTA 1000 tournament in Toronto produced a semifinal lineup drawn exclusively from the world's top 10. Iga Świątek, ranked eighth, faced Elina Switolina in one semifinal, while Coco Gauff met Jelena Rybakina in the other. The Polish-Ukrainian matchup was originally scheduled for 1:00 AM Polish time on 13 August but was delayed by more than 60 minutes because of rain.

Świątek arrived seeking to reverse a trend: she had lost both of her 2026 meetings with Switolina, each in three sets, at the Indian Wells quarterfinal and the Rome semifinal. Their overall head-to-head before Toronto stood at seven encounters, with Świątek winning four and Switolina three. Świątek had recorded four convincing victories from the second round through the quarterfinal, where she defeated Diana Sznaider 6:2, 6:1. Switolina reached the semifinal by losing the first set to Jekaterina Aleksandrowa before winning 6:0, 6:3.

First set: Świątek takes command

Switolina applied immediate pressure, earning two break points in the opening game at 15-40. Świątek recovered to hold, then created four break-point opportunities in Switolina's first service game. The Ukrainian saved three before sending a ball into the doubles corridor on the fourth, giving Świątek a 2:0 lead. The Pole extended the advantage to 4:0 with a second break, producing defensive work that yielded consecutive break points. Switolina finally got on the board by breaking Świątek's serve, the first time the Pole had lost her own delivery in nearly five sets. Świątek responded instantly with another break for 5:1.

Serving for the set, Świątek faltered with double faults, allowing Switolina to prolong the set. The Pole eventually closed it out 6:3 after 48 minutes, converting when Switolina's forehand found the net. One moment stood out at 40-0 in the second game: Świątek's forehand was so precisely placed that Switolina dropped her arms in resignation without attempting to chase the ball.

Second set: Switolina responds

Switolina raised her intensity at the start of the second set. She held serve despite difficulties, then broke Świątek by accelerating her footwork and producing sharp returns. The Ukrainian broke again and took the set 6:1, leveling the match and forcing a decisive third set.

Third set sends Świątek to the final

Świątek recovered from the one-sided second-set loss and won the third set to secure her place in the Toronto final. The decisive set ended a match that had shifted momentum in both directions. The victory was her first over Switolina in 2026.

Ranking consequences

The result carries direct consequences for Świątek's world ranking position. By reaching the final, she is guaranteed to rise to at least seventh, overtaking Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova. A tournament victory would elevate her to fifth, surpassing Karolina Muchova and Mirra Andriejewa. A loss to Switolina would have dropped her to ninth. Aryna Sabalenka remains world No. 1, though Jelena Rybakina could narrow the gap to four points if she wins the Toronto title. Other Polish players in the rankings include Maja Chwalińska at 23rd, Fręch at 42nd, and Linette at 63rd.