The Base Line: Swiatek ends title drought with Toronto triumph as Shelton goes back-to-back

[h2]Title winners[/h2][p]Former world number one [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/swiatek-iga/jNyZsXZe/"]Iga Swiatek[/a] ended her 11-month trophy drought with a dominant [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/rybakina-e-UDzElXdm/swiatek-i-jNyZsXZe/?mid=OACDWR4j"]6-2, 6-3[/a] victory over second seed [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rybakina-elena/UDzElXdm/"]Elena Rybakina[/a] in Toronto, claiming her 26th career title in the process.[/p][p][b]The Pole’s 76-minute triumph over the big-serving Kazakh capped a mightily impressive run at the WTA 1000 event, which also included wins over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/monfils-elina/jyngIesG/"]Elina Svitolina[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/shnaider-diana/028BdVOj/"]Diana Shnaider[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kostyuk-marta/8CZqQdSa/"]Marta Kostyuk[/a].[/b][/p][p]The six-time former Grand Slam champion converted 76% of points behind her first serve while taking four of five break-point opportunities to overwhelm a weary-looking Rybakina with the minimum of fuss.[/p][image alt="Key match stats" id="3f381fef-e2c1-4351-88e7-a06a371465c8" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="fdf24151-373d-4bca-8479-f10ebeebe78f" original-width="2160" original-height="2700" /][p]Swiatek, who has endured a frustrating season by her own lofty standards, is back up to fifth in the WTA rankings and has now clinched all five major North American titles: US Open, Indian Wells, Miami, Cincinnati and Canada.[/p][p][b]"It means so, so much to me,"[/b] she said.[b] "All these past months were not easy. I'm really happy that I kept focusing on growing, changing my game a little bit, improving despite all the opinions that many people have about me every day on the internet."[/b][/p][p]What’s more, Swiatek now boasts a remarkable 26-5 record in WTA finals - the best win rate of any player with 20 or more WTA-level finals since the Tier format's introduction in 1990.[/p][p]Having halted a two-match losing streak against Rybakina, and with world number one [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sabalenka-aryna/vyhksgUB/"]Aryna Sabalenka[/a] in somewhat of a slump, Swiatek will certainly fancy her chances of carrying her momentum into the US Open as she targets a seventh major crown.[/p][embed guid="d446ac64-18c4-48ae-af72-16101aaf55a9" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDttZof7qXI" social-type="youtube" /][p]Over in Montreal, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/shelton-ben/QNuG0Gzb/"]Ben Shelton[/a] produced a superb defence of his Canadian Open title, seeing off compatriot [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/nakashima-brandon/ETGnbrpH/"]Brandon Nakashima[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/nakashima-b-ETGnbrpH/shelton-b-QNuG0Gzb/?mid=8zQf6RtH"]6-3, 7-6(4)[/a] in the showpiece event.[/p][p][b]Seeded fifth at the ATP 1000 tournament, Shelton raced through a tricky-looking draw, seeing off the likes of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/tien-learner/xUHOBJK6/"]Learner Tien[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mensik-jakub/UFj257G8/"]Jakub Mensik[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/fonseca-joao/tv073LUc/"]Joao Fonseca[/a] - all without dropping a set.[/b][/p][p]The 23-year-old fired down 22 winners to just 12 unforced errors in an accomplished display against Nakashima, capturing his seventh career title and a fourth piece of silverware in 2026 (all on different surfaces).[/p][image alt="Key match stats" id="8c206a18-b565-4dc0-a038-893bb8d81a26" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="9b01f15c-ef95-4935-a335-4cd8247d5bd9" original-width="2160" original-height="2700" /][p][b]"To play the way that I have here, going through without dropping a set... it speaks to the work that I've put in and my mental toughness,"[/b] said Shelton.[b] "I'm playing at the top of my limit - I've got no words."[/b][/p][p]With his victory, Shelton became just the fourth man this century to successfully defend the Canada title after [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/murray-andy/tYvP6939/"]Andy Murray[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/djokovic-novak/AZg49Et9/"]Novak Djokovic[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/nadal-rafael/xUwlUnRK/"]Rafael Nadal[/a].[/p][p]It’s a timely boost for the American, who will be desperate for a deep run at Flushing Meadows later this month after shock early exits at both the French Open and Wimbledon earlier in the summer.[/p][embed guid="d6e6f7ca-d075-4fbd-b940-6400eae00d57" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvynMKs124E" social-type="youtube" /][h2]Biggest strugglers[/h2][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/draper-jack/SWxNhpmK/"]Jack Draper[/a]’s miserable 2026 plumbed new depths in Montreal, as the former world number four was reduced to tears in a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/atmare-t-6mkEQ279/draper-j-SWxNhpmK/?mid=GxudtRkm"]6-3, 2-6, 6-2[/a] defeat to France’s [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/atmane-terence/6mkEQ279/"]Terence Atmane[/a].[/p][p][b]In what was Draper’s latest injury comeback, and his first outing since Eastbourne in June, the Brit was unable to build on a spirited second-set showing, as recurring discomfort appeared to restrict his movement in an agonising deciding set.[/b][/p][p]Having previously withdrawn from Wimbledon and Washington due to long-term difficulties with bone bruising in his serving arm, Draper is now ranked as low as 143rd in the world, with a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/draper-j-SWxNhpmK/landaluce-m-AoOnGZEp/?mid=dbir2a5c"]first-round loss[/a] to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/landaluce-martin/AoOnGZEp/"]Martin Landaluce[/a] in Cincinnati another major setback for the 24-year-old.[/p][p]Elsewhere, in Montreal, there were also disappointing early exits for top seed [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/zverev-alexander/dGbUhw9m/"]Alexander Zverev[/a], 2021 champion [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/medvedev-daniil/O8qG0Nhb/"]Daniil Medvedev[/a] and world number seven [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/de-minaur-alex/EZgZ9Xfh/"]Alex de Minaur[/a].[/p][embed guid="75806358-906b-4450-8f25-ad094653a100" url="https://x.com/TennisTV/status/2084745485571506429" social-type="twitter" /][p]French Open finalist [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/chwalinska-maja/OIxOD54s/"]Maja Chwalinska[/a] remains winless since her fairytale run to the Roland Garros showpiece in June, with the Pole falling in [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/chwalinska-m-OIxOD54s/gibson-t-8GwNXON6/?mid=EDp58Zzi"]straight sets[/a] to Australia’s [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gibson-talia/8GwNXON6/"]Talia Gibson[/a] at the Canadian Open.[/p][p]Returning to action for the first time since suffering a nasty-looking ankle injury in her first-round exit at Wimbledon, the 18th seed was comfortably second-best against Gibson, winning just 46% of points behind her first serve, while double-faulting seven times.[/p][p][b]Despite the loss, Chwalinska will be determined to rediscover her best form during the remainder of the hard-court season, as she targets a place inside the top 20 for the first time.[/b][/p][p]Recently crowned Wimbledon champion [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/noskova-linda/zHMiAkw6/"]Linda Noskova[/a] and 2019 winner [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/andreescu-bianca/KhlPw9hb/"]Bianca Andreescu[/a] also joined Chwalinska in losing their opening matches in Toronto.[/p][image alt="Chwalinska (left) shakes hands with Gibson at the net" id="b4887ede-2fd4-40d7-ab15-4619a0971657" credit-line="EYEPIX / NURPHOTO / NURPHOTO VIA AFP" guid="c33192b7-d555-4142-ab8e-4a6f6370b0f4" original-width="6000" original-height="4000" /][h2]Standout moment[/h2][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/jodar-rafael/OdngshVK/"]Rafael Jodar[/a]'s sensational rise continued at the Canadian Open, as the 19-year-old Spaniard reached his maiden Masters 1000 semi-final with straight-set victories over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/musetti-lorenzo/xtH2ODVI/"]Lorenzo Musetti[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lehecka-jiri/6PlgfXKR/"]Jiri Lehecka[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/arthur-fils/IoIhUqIN/"]Arthur Fils[/a].[/p][p][b]The teenager's run took him to the brink of breaking the record for the fastest rise to the top 10 in the sport's history, having only made his Grand Slam debut at the Australian Open in January.[/b][/p][embed guid="6fb15b73-3d3c-40ec-b2e9-d4bc64b8f78c" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzmhCYZEyqU" social-type="youtube" /][p]Jodar ultimately fell short, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/jodar-r-OdngshVK/nakashima-b-ETGnbrpH/?mid=fqlRb8xp"]losing to Nakashima in the last four[/a], but a good run in Cincinnati or Flushing Meadows should still see him break the record for the shortest time between reaching the top 100 and then making the top 10.[/p][p]Boris Becker managed the feat in 210 days, while the Spaniard would've achieved it in just 140 days if he'd beaten Nakashima in Montreal.[/p][p]Nevertheless, Jodar has risen to 11th in the updated rankings, with his relentless, attacking style placing him among the leading contenders at the US Open in a couple of weeks.[/p][h2]Best rallies[/h2][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/van-de-zandschulp-botic/YwiLpILD/"]Botic van de Zandschulp[/a] saved two match points to see off [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hurkacz-hubert/zuHOBnY9/"]Hubert Hurkacz[/a] in Montreal, with the Dutchman producing one of the shots of the year to fend off a monstrous Hurkacz smash.[/p][embed guid="16d76f97-b64c-4016-b330-4049d763ee94" url="https://x.com/TennisTV/status/2085826541653528877" social-type="twitter" /][p]Despite losing a three-set epic to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/eala-alexandra/ppu9X7PH/"]Alexandra Eala[/a] in Toronto, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mcnally-caty/YDHquro6/"]Caty McNally[/a] made life incredibly difficult for her Filipino opponent, as seen by this impressive rally.[/p][embed guid="ea534c6a-d86d-4576-b831-01adb755e19a" url="https://x.com/WTA/status/2085910407797961195" social-type="twitter" /][h2]Upcoming event[/h2][p]The North American hard-court swing has already rolled onto Cincinnati, where the withdrawals of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sinner-jannik/6HdC3z4H/"]Jannik Sinner[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/alcaraz-garfia-carlos/UkhgIFEq/"]Carlos Alcaraz[/a] have resulted in a wide-open men’s draw.[/p][p]Zverev is the top seed, while 24-time major champion Djokovic returns to the court for the first time since losing to Sinner in the Wimbledon semi-finals.[/p][embed guid="09cdc7c1-9edd-4339-9dae-d02e28e84f65" url="https://x.com/CincyTennis/status/2087308956666372358" social-type="twitter" /][p]On the women’s side in Cincinnati, the world number one spot is up for grabs, with 2024 champion Sabalenka holding a narrow lead over second seed Rybakina in the latest rankings.[/p][p]Home favourites [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/pegula-jessica/KdojxrAR/"]Jessica Pegula[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gauff-coco/f5BXmEH6/"]Coco Gauff[/a] are seeded third and fourth, respectively, while defending champion Swiatek will be keen to continue her excellent form from Toronto.[/p][p][b]Check out the full [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/tennis/atp-singles/cincinnati/"]men’s[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/tennis/wta-singles/cincinnati/"]women’s[/a] draws in Cincinnati via the links![/b][/p][infobox id="fa3af8d3-b7b1-4d57-95f0-50d8796bc2f0" /]