LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 09: Iga Swiatek of Poland reacts while playing against Liudmila Samsonova in … More
Five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek will face Belinda Bencic in the second Wimbledon semifinal, with both players making their maiden appearance in the last four at the grass-court major.
A four-time French Open winner and clay-court specialist, Swiatek’s previous best result at Wimbledon was a quarterfinal run in 2023, while Tokyo Olympic champion Bencic had only ever reached the last 16 three times.
Swiatek, the 2018 junior Wimbledon champion, beat Russia’s Liudmila Samsonova in straight sets in the quarterfinals, saying she was proud of how her game on grass has developed. She now holds an 8-1 record on the surface this year — her best in a single season.
“This year, I feel like I developed as a player, and I had time to practice a little bit more,” Swiatek said after her win.
“Match by match, my confidence, for sure, went up so that I can use it on this championship.”
Swiatek Praises Opponent Bencic
LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 09: Iga Swiatek (R) of Poland shakes hands with Belinda Bencic of Switzerland … More
The Pole awaits Swiss mum Bencic in the semifinals, after she edged out teenage Russian and seventh seed Mirra Andreeva in two tiebreak sets. Bencic, the first Swiss woman to reach the Wimbledon semifinals since Martina Hingis in 1998, returned to tennis last October — six months after giving birth to her daughter, Bella.
“I can only imagine how hard it is to come back after pregnancy,” Swiatek said. “We practiced in the first event this year in the United Cup, but it already seems like she’s ready to be back in the rhythm.
“For sure she has the game to play well here on grass. Yeah, I never doubted that she can’t come back after pregnancy. She seems like she’s in a good mood and she’s playing well.”
Swiatek and Bencic have faced off four times, with the Pole leading their head-to-head 3-1. Their last meeting was also at Wimbledon — a three-set battle in the fourth round in 2023.
Bencic, The Super Mom
ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – FEBRUARY 08: Belinda Bencic of Switzerland holds her daughter … More
Back in the top 20 after maternity leave and playing just the second Grand Slam semifinal of her career, Bencic said she was proud of her journey.
“I didn’t say it to myself much before but since having Bella I say it to myself every day,” she told the crowd. “It’s not only me — I wouldn’t be able to do it without my amazing family and team. We worked so hard on the comeback.
“We are enjoying life on tour and to play great is a bonus. I’m generally just really happy to be able to play again because my body allows it.”
Swiatek vs Bencic is scheduled to take place on Centre Court after the Sabalenka vs Anisimova semifinal.
