Iga Swiatek defeated Viktoria Golubic 6-2, 6-1 in the third round of the Toronto tournament on Thursday despite struggling in the opening game. The victory marked the first time the world number eight has won two full main-draw matches at the event.
Swiatek lost her serve in the first game after making a double fault and three unforced errors in rallies. In her previous match against Sara Bejlek, Swiatek committed only three unforced errors throughout the entire first set. Swiatek quickly recovered, and her coach Francisco Roig, who is currently resting, did not need to worry after her early three-minute slump.
Artificial intelligence had given Golubic, who is ranked 51st by the WTA, a 10 percent chance of defeating Swiatek before the match. Before the contest, Dawid Celt, the captain of the Polish Billie Jean King Cup team, told Canal+ that Golubic was a flexible player who did not rely on power. Celt said Golubic would not cause damage if Swiatek maintained patience and set her aim correctly.
Early Service Trouble and Match Recovery
Golubic displayed her touch during a long rally in the sixth game of the first set, but Swiatek controlled the rest of the match. The 25-year-old Polish player, who has won six Grand Slam titles, recovered her composure and won 79 percent of points on her first serve and 54 percent on her second serve.
Swiatek celebrated a successful drop shot in the second game of the second set, a shot she rarely uses and often struggles to execute. Mid-way through the second set, Golubic covered her face with her visor as Swiatek maintained control of the game.
Tournament History and Upcoming Opponents
Golubic, who is nine years older than Swiatek, previously defeated the Pole in the first round of Wimbledon in 2019 during Swiatek's senior debut. Swiatek said after that 2019 match that she had felt hopeless and mentally asleep on the court.
Swiatek last competed in Toronto four years ago, having withdrawn from the 2024 tournament following the Paris Olympics. The Canadian WTA 1000 tournament alternates between Toronto and Montreal, where Swiatek reached the semifinals three years ago while working to return to that level of form. During her Toronto debut in 2019, when she did not receive a first-round bye, Swiatek advanced after her opponent retired.
Swiatek will play either Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk or American Madison Keys in the next round. Kostyuk has won two WTA tournaments this season, reached two Grand Slam semifinals, and previously defeated Swiatek in the round of 16 at Roland Garros.
