Five Grand Slam titles, but no chance in Wimbledon-so far it was at IGA Swiatek, but it is no longer. After a confident 6: 2, 7: 5 against Liudmila Samsonova on Wednesday, the Polish is for the first time in the semi -finals.
“It feels great. I am proud and have goose bumps – but I’m going to do it”said Swiatek after her success: “This year I really enjoy it, I worked hard to improve on lawn.” And that pays off.
Swiatek on lawn without a title
Four triumphs at the French Open, a title at the US Open, two semi -finals at the Australian Open – but success in Wimbledon? That hadn’t existed in her career at Swiatek. It was the number one in the world for a long time, but the biggest rasm tournament on the tour didn’t have too much to do with it. The balance sheet of five participations: 1st round, twice 3. round, eighth and quarter-finals. There was nothing more in it. Until now.
Swiatek has not yet won a title on this covering, most recently in Bad Homburg she missed the chance in the final against Jessica Pegula. After that, however, she said: “I have the feeling that it goes in the right direction. This tournament has shown that there is hope for me.” And that was underpinned by the quarter -finals in Wimbledon, only one sentence gave the Polish in the first four games.
Samsonova starts well, but Swiatek then forces her to go to mistakes
But with Samsonova the biggest test stone was now waiting, the 26-year-old even marched through the first four rounds without losing a set, and her opponents have so far had their opponents left without a chance. And Swiatek also had problems with her at the beginning, in the first service game she already had to ward off the first breakball. Apart from this opportunity for Samsonova, both acted very confidently with their own service, hardly made any mistakes.
At 2: 3, Samsonova wobbled, who served the toughest serve in the women’s tournament this year with 206 kilometers per hour, but then suddenly. She already led 40:15, but then failed several times and collected the first break of the game. It was the first moment in which the outsider set at number 19 showed nerves in the first Grand Slam quarter-finals of her career.
But this one moment was enough, especially since Swiatek played faster and faster that dominated the basic line in most cases. That’s why Samsonova had to go to quick points immediately as soon as she could play the ball with the forehand – too often the ball ended up in the end. So Swiadek won the first round at the end with 6-2.
Swiatek’s creative break extends the game
The 24-year-old was in control of the game. She prepared with a lot of spin, with strong flat blows, especially with her extremely safe backhand, she then completed the rallies very often. Swiatek even appeared more often on the net and was successful there – she performed like a real lawn specialist. Samsonova had no chance at her opponent’s service, the outsider was very far from a break chance like the opening game.
Swiatek had obviously managed to take hope of her opponent. With a double error, Samsonova gave her first impact game of the second set to zero to 0: 2. At that moment it only looked like it was a matter of time before Swiatek wins the second set and thus reaches the semi -finals for the first time in her career.
Until then, it took a little longer than expected because the Polish suddenly made many mistakes. Samsonova achieved the rebreak to 2: 3, Swiadek restored the old lead, but then gave up her serve, after the following game it was 4: 4. But she caught herself and finally closed the sack. After 1:49 hours, Swiatek converted her first match ball to 7: 5.