LONDON — Iga Swiatek has stormed into the Wimbledon semifinals for the very first time, securing a 6-2, 7-5 triumph over the 19th seed, Liudmila Samsonova. The match started off smoothly but turned into a nail-biter as it progressed on Wednesday.
“Even amidst the tournament, I felt goosebumps after this victory,” Swiatek expressed. The Polish sensation will clash with unseeded Belinda Bencic on Thursday for a coveted spot in the finals. “I’m incredibly happy and immensely proud of my performance.”
Bencic advanced to her first Grand Slam semifinal since the 2019 U.S. Open by defeating the No. 7 seed, Mirra Andreeva, with a score of 7-6 (3), 7-6 (2). The other semifinal will see the top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka face off against the 13th seed, Amanda Anisimova, both having prevailed in their matches on Tuesday.
Swiatek, a five-time major champion, boasts four of her titles from the clay-court French Open and another from the hard courts of the U.S. Open. She has also reached the semifinals at the Australian Open twice.
The grass courts of the All England Club have historically posed challenges for her, despite her junior championship triumph there in 2018. Prior to this year, Swiatek had only made it to the quarterfinals once in her five previous Wimbledon appearances, bowing out at that stage in 2023.
However, the 24-year-old is now relishing her best-ever performance on the slick grass surface, thanks in part to her improved comfort level with the demanding footing.
“I definitely feel like I’ve put in the hard work to thrive on this surface,” Swiatek remarked. “This year, I believe I can really hone my skills and keep progressing. I’ll continue to strive for improvement.”
Before heading into Wimbledon, Swiatek was the runner-up at Bad Homburg, Germany—marking her first final on grass and her first appearance in a final of any tournament in over a year. This stretch had led her to slip from the No. 1 ranking, landing her at the No. 8 seed at the All England Club.
Her tough patch also included a one-month suspension last season due to a doping controversy, sparked by a failed out-of-competition drug test linked to unintentional contamination from over-the-counter medication for jet lag and sleep issues. A semifinal loss to Sabalenka at Roland-Garros last month snapped her impressive 26-match winning streak at the French Open.
In her match against Samsonova, Swiatek initially secured a set lead and a 3-0 advantage in the second. However, the match soon found itself tied at 4-all and then 5-all. Undeterred, Swiatek regained her composure, holding serve for a 6-5 lead before breaking to clinch the match, eliciting a joyous smile.
“I’ll focus on recovery today, hold off on celebrating too much, and shift my attention to the next challenge,” Swiatek stated. “I’m planning to prepare this evening, and I’ll be ready for tomorrow.”
Bencic, now 28, is competing in her second major tournament after returning to the pro circuit following the birth of her daughter, Bella, in April 2024.
“I’m genuinely proud, actually. Throughout my career, I haven’t often acknowledged my achievements, but since Bella’s arrival, I remind myself daily how far I’ve come,” Bencic shared. “Traveling the tour with Bella, creating lasting memories together, and playing well—it’s all a beautiful bonus. I’m simply thrilled to be back on the court.”
