“Why vintage?”: Iga Swiatek reacts to “vintage Iga” talk after Toronto masterclass
WTATuesday, 11 August 2026 at 08:30
Iga Swiatek questioned the repeated description of her tennis as “vintage” after producing a dominant 6-2, 6-1 win over Diana Shnaider in just 64 minutes to reach the Canadian Open semifinals. The former world No. 1 responded to the label during her Tennis Channel interview, pointing out that she is still only 25 years old after another convincing performance in Toronto.
Swiatek controlled the match from the opening stages, using her forehand, movement and height over the net to overwhelm Shnaider. The performance prompted Tennis Channel’s desk to highlight similarities to the Pole’s best tennis, while Swiatek pushed back against the suggestion that her strongest version belongs to the past.
The Pole has navigated different tactical challenges throughout the Toronto draw, including recovering from a set down against Marta Kostyuk. She has also faced left-handed opponents and players relying heavily on topspin or slices before producing her most straightforward victory against Shnaider.
The semifinal appearance further strengthens Swiatek’s record at WTA 1000 level. She has now reached 23 semifinals in the format, tying Agnieszka Radwanska for fourth place since its introduction in 2009. Only Simona Halep, Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka have reached more, while Swiatek continues her pursuit of a first final in 2026.
Swiatek rejects “vintage” label after Toronto masterclass
Swiatek's response came immediately when Tennis Channel referenced the qualities of her performance and described them as “vintage.” The Pole questioned why she was already being described in those terms, considering how recently she established herself as one of the dominant players on the WTA Tour.
“Why vintage? Everybody keeps saying vintage, but what the hell, it’s been like, what, two or three years? You must be like nine years old that people keep calling it vintage, you know.”
Swiatek returned to the subject moments later, explaining that she has repeatedly heard the same description during the tournament while emphasizing her age. “No, it’s that, like, there have been many people coming to me, like, ‘vintage Iga,’ and I’m like, I’m still like 25, so…”
Iga Swiatek now reached 23 semifinals at WTA 1000 level.
Her performance against Shnaider offered plenty of evidence for the comparison, even if Swiatek rejected the label. She took control early and never allowed the Russian to establish a sustained challenge, eventually closing out the match in just over an hour.
Swiatek also explained that the tournament has tested her in several different ways, particularly after her difficult encounter with Kostyuk in Round of 16 (3-6, 6-1, 6-2). “Every match here is giving me quite a lot. I felt like the one with Marta Kostyuk obviously was the most tight, so I also had to, you know, bounce back from being a set down and kind of figure out problems on the court.”
“The rest of the matches were pretty straightforward, but for sure they’re, you know, giving me different kind of experiences, because I played with two lefties, I played with a girl who has a really great topspin, I played with a girl who slices a lot. It feels like I played with everybody. Now we’ll see who my opponent is going to be, and, yeah, I feel ready for sure.”
Swiatek climbs WTA 1000 list as first final of 2026 awaits
The victory over Shnaider moved Swiatek into a tie for fourth place with 23 WTA 1000 semifinal appearances, matching Agnieszka Radwanska. Only Simona Halep (29), Serena Williams (26) and Victoria Azarenka (24) have reached more. Swiatek also owns 11 WTA 1000 titles, level with Aryna Sabalenka and Lindsay Davenport for fifth-most on the all-time list.
The Pole has now matched her best Canadian Open result after reaching the semifinals in Montreal in 2023. She will look to go one step further in Toronto against either Elina Svitolina or Ekaterina Alexandrova, who will meet later on Monday for a place in the last four.
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A victory would send Swiatek into her first final of 2026, with her previous semifinal coming in Rome, where she lost to Svitolina. A rematch could therefore await if the Ukrainian advances. Swiatek has not reached a final since winning the Korea Open in Seoul almost a year ago.
The 25-year-old has also slipped to world No. 8 after previously dominating the top of the rankings. Her Toronto run comes at an important stage of the season, with Cincinnati next on the schedule, where Swiatek will be defending the title and the ranking points that came with it.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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