One semi-final to preview from the WTA Canadian Open in Toronto today, and it's a genuinely good one. Swiatek and Svitolina have history, and neither player is exactly in the form of their life right now, which makes this more interesting than it might look on paper.
WTA Canadian Open Predictions
Iga Swiatek vs Elina Svitolina
Head-to-head: Swiatek 5-3 Svitolina
Swiatek leads this series comfortably, but Svitolina's three wins are a reminder that she's one of the few players on tour who doesn't panic against Iga's heavy topspin. She stays low, absorbs pace well and drags Swiatek into physical baseline battles that can go either way on a slower hard court. That's a real problem for Swiatek on a surface that doesn't give her the same margin she gets on clay.
That said, Swiatek has won five of these eight meetings and remains the more dangerous player in the bigger moments. Svitolina can neutralize her for stretches, but actually putting sets away against Iga is a different thing entirely, and I feel like the class difference shows up when it matters most. Swiatek should still find a way to get through here, probably needing three sets to close it out.
Prediction: Swiatek in 3
For full predictions on ATP and WTA matches today, check out Uppset.
Credit Image: © Leonardo Ramirez/eyepix via ZUMA Press Wire