Swiatek Rallies Past Kostyuk into Toronto QF – Tennis Now

By Richard Pagliaro | Saturday, August 8, 2026
Picture credit score: Nationwide Financial institution Open Fb

One-set deficits had been sink holes for Iga Swiatek all through a lot of the season.

Down a set to red-hot Marta Kostyuk right this moment, Swiatek created a springboard.

Transferring sooner and hitting more durable, Swiatek roared again to life in a stirring comeback.

World No. 8 Swiatek fought off Kostyuk 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 avenging her Roland Garros fourth-round loss to the Ukrainian—and changing into the primary girl to advance to the Toronto quarterfinals.

Tennis Express

Shop racquets →

A fired-up Swiatek pumped her first and screamed in triumph after a hard-fought comeback.

“I used to be simply happy with myself and proud of the efficiency,” Swiatek mentioned afterward. “It was an intense match.

“Though the scoreline was perhaps not so shut, however each level, like, we fought for each ball. There weren’t many free factors.

“And if we each made some errors it was as a result of the opposite one was pushing. It’s not like we simply performed silly or one thing, you already know.

“So, on the finish I used to be simply pleased that I used to be the one which was extra stable and improved my recreation till the tip.”

It was Swiatek’s first comeback win from a set down since final February when she fended off Daria Kasatkina 5-7, 6-1, 6-1 in Doha. Swiatek snapped a seven-match shedding streak versus High 20 opponents in three setters. 

Persevering with her hunt for her first ultimate of the season, Swiatek will play Fifteenth-seeded Diana Shnaider for a semifinal spot.

The left-handed Shnaider upset world No. 3 Jessica Pegula 6-3, 6-3.

It was Shnaider’s first win over 2024 US Open finalist Pegula in 5 profession conferences . World No. 17 Shnaider avenged a 7-5, 6-4 loss to Pegula within the Washington, DC semifinals earlier this month.

Tennis Express

Shop apparel →

“We performed a few occasions. Each time is so robust,” Shnaider instructed Tennis Channel’s Mark Knowles. “She’s a tremendous participant. At present, was clearly tremendous tough to the win. I simply tried to make use of it in my favor tried to make use of extra selection, extra slices, extra spin.

“I really feel like clearly this week I’ve been very comfy defending and simply firing some winners so I really feel prefer it was working properly. General, I used to be simply attempting to comprehend from which facet the wind was coming so the place I may rip it and the place I may form of push it within the court docket”.

It’s the sixth quarterfinal of the season for Swiatek, who snapped Kostyuk’s streak of seven straight wins in three-set matches.

After Kostyuk punished her serve like a pinata within the opening set, Swiatek struck her serve with extra confidence, saving all eight break factors she confronted within the second and third units.

Swiatek saved two break factors serving out the match, closing a grueling 10-and-a-half minute ultimate recreation on her sixth match level when Kostyuk netted a backhand return to finish it in two hours, 11 minutes. 

4 straight service breaks opened right this moment’s rematch of the Roland Garros fourth spherical.

Serving for the set, Kostyuk dug out of a triple break level gap. 

The previous No. 1 earned a fourth break level, however netted a backhand return. Kostyuk swept the slider serve large for set level. 

A tame drop shot from Kostyuk sat up and Swiatek swooped in with loads of time for the go solely to knock a backhand large. 

Remarkably, Kostyuk received 16 of 17 factors performed on Swiatek’s serve, together with all six second serve factors, within the 40 minute opener. Kostyuk hammered out three breaks at love within the set.

Tennis Express

Shop strings →

 After a toilet break, the 2025 Cincinnati champion returned to the court docket putting the ball with extra conviction and serving at greater speeds.

“I feel that the pace of my serve was not excessive sufficient, however she was additionally returning properly,” Swiatek mentioned. “It’s not like I used to be beating myself up. It was extra like, I do know she’s an important returner, she’s placing stress particularly on the second serve of the opponent, and typically she was risking it and it was getting in.

“So, yeah, I imply, I knew I have to serve higher if I need to win the match, however I additionally knew that if I simply proceed being stable she could do some errors typically. So, you already know, so, yeah, within the second and third it was simply higher stage of serving.”

Hitting her second serve deeper within the field, Swiatek rallied from 15-30 down to carry and begin the second set. Swiatek saved a few break factors holding for 3-0. 

Transferring the ball nook to nook, Swiatek received eight of 9 factors extending her result in 5-1 because the Ukrainian’s forehand was failing her at occasions. 

The seventh-seeded Swiatek saved three break factors in a draining five-deuce recreation earlier than changing her fourth set level with the slider serve. Swiatek snatched the second set to power a decider after 82 minutes of play. The Pole received 22 of 34 service factors and denied all 5 break factors she confronted within the second set.

Using that momentum, Swiatek rattled out a few wild forehand errors scoring the love break to begin the third set.

Although the red-hot Kostyuk has delivered a break-out season, together with capturing the Madrid championship and reaching the Roland Garros semifinals, she couldn’t constantly hold the ball between the traces at crunch time right this moment.

Swiatek received two of the primary 4 video games of the decider at love for 3-1. Swiatek saved one other break level, extending her result in 5-1.

Credit score Kostyuk for taking place preventing. The Ukrainian fought off 5 match factors within the ultimate recreation that was longest of the set. 

On her fifth match level, Swiatek was in prime place at web however blocked a backhand volley lengthy. Swiatek saved a second break level within the recreation bolting a backhand winner and at last closed on her sixth match level when Kostyuk couldn’t clear web with a backhand return.