Rain delay, momentum swings — Toronto fans see two three-set semifinals
Play resumed under a damp sky at the National Bank Open in Toronto on Wednesday, and by the end of a long evening two of the tournament favourites had earned spots in Thursday night's championship match. Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina each navigated three-set tests on Centre Court to reach the women's singles final.
Weather pushed back the session by about an hour, but when competition got under way the semifinals delivered tense exchanges, momentum swings and late-match surges that kept the crowd engaged.
Swiatek edges Svitolina in three
Poland's Iga Swiatek, seeded No. 7, defeated Ukraine's Elina Svitolina 6-3, 1-6, 6-3. Early breaks gave Swiatek control of the opening set as she won the first four games and secured successive breaks of serve. Svitolina found her range in the second set, moving aggressively and taking command to level the match with a 6-1 set.
In the decider, the Ukrainian again pressured Swiatek's service games and converted a break to lead 3-2. But Svitolina's level did not hold, and Swiatek capitalized, winning four consecutive games to close the match and claim her place in the final.
Rybakina recovers to topple Gauff
Elena Rybakina, representing Kazakhstan, recovered from an opening-set loss to defeat American Coco Gauff 5-7, 6-2, 6-2. Gauff, who had not played since Sunday, dropped the first set after letting a late surge from Rybakina slip away; she had to battle early rust but managed to take the opener.
Rybakina responded strongly in the second set, breaking serve and carrying that momentum through the third. The Kazakh's ability to lift her level and apply pressure on Gauff's serve proved decisive as she took six of the final eight games to secure the victory.
"The semifinals in Toronto produced the kind of high-stakes swings fans expect at big events," — match statistics and scorelines
- Semifinal winners: Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina
- Match formats: Both matches extended to three sets
- Next: Swiatek and Rybakina meet in the Toronto final on Thursday night
| Match | Score |
|---|---|
| Swiatek vs Svitolina | 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 |
| Rybakina vs Gauff | 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 |
The wins set up a final that pits two powerful baseline players with contrasting styles: Swiatek's heavy topspin and tactical consistency against Rybakina's flat, big-serving game. For Toronto, the matchup guarantees a marquee night of tennis and keeps the tournament's reputation as a stop where top-ranked players contend deep into the week.
Beyond the title on the line, the results have immediate implications for ranking points and form ahead of the late summer hard-court season. Players and coaches will take stock of physical condition after three-set battles and a weather-extended schedule, while tournament organisers now prepare for a packed Centre Court final under lights.
For local fans, the National Bank Open continues to offer high-calibre tennis in downtown Toronto, with crowds drawn to a court that consistently stages close matches and dramatic comebacks. The evening’s outcomes ensured a final featuring two Grand Slam champions and players capable of producing the head-turning rallies that have made this event a fixture on the summer tennis calendar.
