Iga Swiatek swept past Diana Shnaider 6-2 6-1 on Monday to reach the Canadian Open semi-finals, where the Pole will face Elina Svitolina after the Ukrainian rallied past Ekaterina Alexandrova in Toronto.
It was a confidence-boosting display ahead of the U.S. Open for former world number one Swiatek, who won one of her six Grand Slam titles in Flushing Meadows in 2022.
Swiatek was in complete control against Shnaider, combining crisp ball striking with strong court coverage to overwhelm her Russian opponent in 68 minutes.
The Pole sealed a second break of the set for a 5-1 lead with a sharply angled crosscourt winner that clipped the line, before wrapping up the contest when Shnaider sent a forehand long on match point.
The win puts Swiatek into her first WTA 1000 semi-final of an inconsistent season in which she has failed to advance beyond the quarters at a Grand Slam and suffered a surprise second-round defeat by compatriot Magda Linette in Miami.
That loss led Swiatek to make a coaching change, replacing Wim Fissette with Francisco Roig.
Swiatek was also beaten in straight sets by Alexandra Eala in the third round at Wimbledon, where she was defending champion.
Svitolina leapt into the air and pumped her fist in triumph after completing a 3-6 6-0 6-3 comeback win against her Russian opponent to set up today’s meeting with Swiatek, who she beat in the Rome semi-finals in May.- Reuters