Iga Swiatek, Belinda Bencic into first Wimbledon semi-final with final spot at stake

LONDON – Iga Swiatek had “goosebumps” after reaching the Wimbledon semi-finals for the first time in her illustrious career on July 9 after beating Russia’s Liudmila Samsonova 6-2, 7-5.

The Polish eighth seed will next face former Olympic champion Belinda Bencic, who beat teenage Russian seventh seed Mirra Andreeva 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-2), for a place in the July 12 final.

“I’ve got goosebumps after this win. I’m super happy and super proud of myself. I’ll keep going,” she said.

“Yeah for sure (I’m loving the grass a bit more). I really enjoy playing this year. Hopefully, it’s gonna last as long as possible. I feel like I worked really hard to progress on this surface.

“This year I feel like I can just work with it... I’ll just keep doing that. It’s a pleasure to play in front of you guys. Thank you for the support.”

Bencic herself became a first-time Wimbledon semi-finalist. The only mother left in the singles draw had three match points after Andreeva double faulted in the second tiebreak on Centre Court and needed only one, sealing victory with a smash at the net.

“It’s crazy, it’s unbelievable. It’s a dream come true,” said the 28-year-old, who is first Swiss woman to make it to the last four since Martina Hingis in 1998.

As for Swiatek, she has won four titles on the French Open clay, as well as the hard-court US Open in 2022, but has struggled on the lawns of the All England Club.

Her previous best result at Wimbledon was a run to the quarter-finals in 2023.

The Pole broke Samsonova twice in the opening set to take a firm grip on the match, benefiting from a flurry of unforced errors from her opponent and winning 100 per cent of her points on first serve.

Two double faults from Russian 19th seed Samsonova handed Swiatek an early break in the second set and she snuffed out a clutch of break points in the following game to go 3-0 up.

The 24-year-old was pegged back by two breaks of serve as her level dipped and Samsonova pulled level at 4-4. But Swiatek regrouped and broke again to seal the win.

The former world No. 1 has gone under the radar at this year’s Wimbledon as most of the other top women’s seeds have tumbled, though top seed Aryna Sabalenka is still standing.

After slipping down the rankings, Swiatek is now back in the world’s top four, having reaching the Bad Homburg final on grass in June.

The former Wimbledon junior champion lost in the semi-finals of both the Australian Open and the French Open in 2025.

Earlier on July 8, Carlos Alcaraz swept into the semi-finals for a third successive year as the defending champion demolished Britain’s Cameron Norrie in a Centre Court masterclass.

The Spanish star needed just 99 minutes to thrash Norrie 6-2, 6-3, 6-3 in his most commanding performance in the 2025 tournament.

Alcaraz, the second seed, dropped four sets in a series of scrappy displays during his run to the last eight.

But he was back to his imperious best in the quarter-finals, blasting 39 winners to set up a last-four clash with American fifth seed Taylor Fritz on July 11.

“To be able to play another semi-final here at Wimbledon is super special,” Alcaraz said. “It’s going to be great. I’m really happy with the way I played against a really difficult player.”

The Spaniard looks like the title favourite heading into the closing stages of the tournament.

He is on a career-best 23 match winning run since losing to Holger Rune in the Barcelona final in April – a superb streak which has brought him titles at the French Open, Rome Masters and Queen’s Club.

Alcaraz, who vanquished Novak Djokovic in the last two Wimbledon finals, has lost just three Tour-level matches on grass. His last defeat at the All England Club came against world No. 1 Jannik Sinner in the fourth round in 2022.

“Taylor is playing great. The grass season has been really successful for him so far with two titles and a semi-final here,” he added. “I have to be ready for that battle. I will try to play the same level as today.” AFP, REUTERS