Iga Swiatek wins the National Bank Open and responds to criticism.

Iga Swiatek did not hesitate to use her recent victory at the National Bank Open to respond to critics, revealing that this season has been the most challenging of her career. The seventh seed triumphed over Elena Rybakina with a clear 6-2, 6-3 in the final in Toronto, and took the opportunity to address the wave of criticism that has followed her throughout the year.

“I’m very happy with this tournament. It means a lot to me,” Swiatek said. “The last few months haven’t been easy. I’m really glad that I’ve managed to stay focused on growing, changing my game a bit, improving, despite all the opinions that many people have about me every day on the internet. It’s not easy to deal with all of that. I’m happy that the reality is different. The reality is that I have people who know me so well and support me. They are here to give their best. Just keep fighting, you know?”

Swiatek dedicated her title to all those facing unfair judgments and hatred, encouraging them to “keep fighting and growing.” The pressure she felt when dropping to eighth place in the world rankings, her lowest position in the last 53 months, was immense, especially when a psychologist in Poland called her “stupid and cowardly” during a podcast, leading to the segment's removal and a public apology from the broadcaster.

The criticism did not come only from outside; her former childhood coach, Artur Szostacczko, also questioned the influence of psychologist Daria Abramowicz on the tennis player's career. Swiatek refuted those comments, stating that he “only saw her when she was 10 or 12 years old” and therefore was not qualified to comment on her current career.

The victory in Toronto represents the 26th title of her career on the WTA Tour and the 12th at the WTA 1000 level, surpassing Aryna Sabalenka and placing her just behind Serena Williams. This triumph also marks her first title under the guidance of new coach Francisco Roig, although he was not present for the final, having departed for Cincinnati for the next tournament.

Rybakina, for her part, attributed the defeat to accumulated fatigue after a grueling week, acknowledging that her semifinal against Coco Gauff left her without the strength to compete in the final. “I didn’t have much energy. I was very tired. You could see I wasn’t pushing with my legs enough,” said the Kazakh player, who nonetheless remained positive about her time management during the tournament.

Both players now head to Cincinnati, where they could meet again in the quarterfinals. Swiatek, as the defending champion, faces the possibility of a rematch with Rybakina, who is seeking redemption after her semifinal exit the previous year.