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Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina came up just short of another WTA 1000 final in 2026, losing to former world No. 1 Iga Swiatek in a hard-fought three-set semifinal at the Canadian Open in Toronto.
WTA 1000 Toronto, semifinal
Iga Swiatek (Poland) – Elina Svitolina (Ukraine) 6-3, 1-6, 6-3
Swiatek took the opening set 6-3, but Svitolina responded emphatically in the second, dropping just one game to level the match.
The Ukrainian started the deciding set strongly, breaking Swiatek to take a 3-2 lead. However, the Polish player produced a decisive four-game run to close out the match 6-3.
The defeat ended Svitolina’s bid for a third WTA 1000 final of the season. Earlier this year, she reached the final in Dubai and won the title in Rome. She also claimed the WTA 250 title in Auckland.
Despite the loss, Svitolina continues to enjoy an impressive 2026 season. Her run in Toronto included victories over Amanda Anisimova and Ekaterina Alexandrova, while she had previously defeated Swiatek in the Rome semifinals.
Swiatek, meanwhile, reached her first final of the 2026 season. She will face Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina in the Toronto final.
For Svitolina, the next stop is Cincinnati, where she is scheduled to begin her campaign in the second round as a seeded player.
