Poland’s Iga Swiatek has won Toronto’s National Bank Open,\u00a0and she had a few words for those who doubted her following Thursday’s match.<\/p>\n
Following her dominant 6-2, 6-3 win over Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina in the final, Swiatek went on live television and called out her haters.<\/p>\n
“It’s my first title of the 2026 season. It feels great, especially with all the people judging and hating at home,” Swiatek told Sportsnet’s Danielle Michaud.<\/p>\n
“Honestly, I give less shit about it and proved I could win this tournament,” she continued.<\/p>\n
“It feels great, especially with all the people judging and hating.”<\/p>\n
Iga Swiatek joins @SNMichaud<\/a> after winning #NBO26<\/a> for her first title in 2026. pic.twitter.com\/AY6kKTdL3k<\/a><\/p>\n
The six-time Grand Slam champion later told reporters that this was the first time in her career she had felt angry following a tournament win.<\/p>\n Swiatek has apparently faced criticism from Polish media for what was a trophy-less 2026 season prior to this point.<\/p>\n “I’ve received unfair judgment and people painting a picture of me,” Swiatek said during her post-match press conference.<\/p>\n “I’ve worked hard to avoid all this noise and unnecessary judgment… that’s what makes me angry because it shouldn’t be like that.”<\/p>\n Her comments, however, were not directed at the Toronto crowd, which proudly supported her during all six of her matches at the National Bank Open.<\/p>\n In fact, Swiatek said it felt like half the crowd at Sobeys Stadium for the final were Polish.<\/p>\n “I was told at the beginning of the tournament that there was a huge Polish community here. I didn’t know it was that big,” Swiatek said.<\/p>\n The support for\u00a0Swiatek at Sobeys Stadium on Thursday was noticeable.<\/p>\n Polish-Canadian Magdalena Pierog of Mississauga attended all six of Swiatek’s matches at the National Bank Open and passionately led the “Iga” chants each game.<\/p>\n Mississauga\u2019s Magdalena Pierog has been at all six of Iga \u015awi\u0105tek\u2019s matches at @NBOtoronto<\/a>.<\/p>\n Magdalena considers herself a \u015awi\u0105tek superfan and has been leading the \ud83c\uddf5\ud83c\uddf1 support at Sobeys Stadium with her \u201cIga, Iga\u201d chant.#WTA<\/a> #NBO2026<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/i3kNPhY3z3<\/a><\/p>\n
“She’s an inspiration to all of us, and Polish people are just so proud of her,” Pierog told blogTO.<\/p>\n “Toronto has a massive Polish community, and we are so happy to be part of her journey here.”<\/p>\n Lead photo by <\/p>\n John E. Sokolowski\/Imagn Images<\/p>\n
\n\u2014 Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) August 14, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\u2014 Marley Dickinson (@marleydickinson) August 13, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n