Iga Swiatek heaped praise on her upcoming opponent, Belinda Bencic, after the Swiss reached the Wimbledon semifinals just six months after returning to the courts following her maternity break.

Liudmila Samsonova is quietly climbing tennis’s elite with raw power, icy focus, and a game that speaks louder than her posts. A low-profile star shaping her story one title at a time.

She may not have uttered the words "grass is for cows", as Ivan Lendl once did when he opted to skip the tournament to go on holiday, but Swiatek seemed to share that sentiment as Wimbledon was never a happy hunting ground for her.

Raised in Italy by Russian parents, Samsonova has faced unique challenges, including issues with citizenship and identity. After representing Italy as a junior, she began playing under the Russian flag in 2018. “Now I know who I am, which player I am,” she said. “The puzzle is finally coming together.”

For a place in the Wimbledon semifinal, Swiatek will play against No. 19 seed Liudmila Samsonova, who defeated Jessica Bouzas Maneiro today. The Pole leads their head-to-head 2-0. On the other side, Andreeva will meet Belinda Bencic, who overcame Ekaterina Alexandrova today. They have never played before.