Belinda Bencic ended the teenage dreams of Mirra Andreeva to reach her first Wimbledon semi-final.
Andreeva, 18, was bidding to become the youngest semi-finalist at the All England Club since Maria Sharapova won the title 21 years ago but Bencic edged a cat-and-mouse battle 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (7-2).
It has been a remarkable comeback for the Swiss following the birth of daughter Bella in April last year, and she will now face Iga Swiatek in just the second grand slam semi-final of her career.
Her first slam semi-final came six years ago at the US Open, which had been by a distance her best major tournament, although Bencic achieved the high point of her career in 2021 by winning Olympic singles gold.
She returned from her maternity break at the end of October by playing lower-tier events and it was a strategy that worked, with the 28-year-old, who travels with Bella and fitness trainer husband Martin Hromkovic in tow, finding her feet immediately back on the WTA Tour this year.
Bencic and Andreeva are two of the best tacticians in the women’s game, and they probed each other looking for an advantage, with neither giving up anything until the first-set tie-break, when the Swiss was the steadier.
Bencic looked poised to clinch victory when she secured the first break of serve in the contest in the ninth game of the second set to leave herself serving for the match.
Andreeva looked to coach Conchita Martinez, back in her familiar role a day after her young charge had played cheerleader during an invitation doubles match, and with her back against the wall she managed to hit straight back.
Bencic was struggling with a painful toenail but, having sent the trainer away at 5-4, she battled her way into a tie-break and again showed her experience to move into the last four.
Brilliant Bencic does it again 🤩
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 9, 2025
Belinda Bencic defeats Mirra Andreeva 7-6(3), 7-6(2) to reach her first ever #Wimbledon semi-final - and she does it in some style! 💥 pic.twitter.com/KfjjZv0RrU
The first Swiss woman to make it this far since Martina Hingis in 1998, Bencic beamed after putting away the final volley, saying: "It's crazy, it's unbelievable, it’s a dream come true. I tried not to think about it at the match point. I’m speechless. So happy.
"I’m very proud. I didn’t say that to myself much in my career but after having Bella I really say that to myself every day. We are just enjoying life on tour. It’s been beautiful to create these memories together."
Iga Swiatek smashed through her grass ceiling as she reached the semi-finals for the first time.
The 24-year-old, a four-time French Open champion, swept aside Liudmila Samsonova 6-2 7-5 on Court One.
Swiatek has never before been able to convincingly transfer her claycourt nous to the lawns of SW19.
But after losing her Roland Garros crown last month, the Polish star looks determined to finally open her turf account.
A convincing victory means the prospect of a mouthwatering first grand slam final between Swiatek and the woman who replaced her as world number one, Aryna Sabalenka, remains on the cards.
Samsonova, the 19th seed from Russia, was making her first appearance in a grand slam quarter-final, and it showed.
She made 18 unforced errors as Swiatek raced away with the first set and back-to-back double faults gifted the eighth seed a break at the start of the second.
Having lost seven straight games the 26-year-old began to swing more freely and managed to reel Swiatek back in at 4-4.
However, Swiatek brought up two match points and converted the second with a forehand winner, wrapping up victory in an hour and 49 minutes.
Jazda! 🇵🇱
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 9, 2025
Iga Swiatek defeats Liudmila Samsonova 6-2, 7-5 to reach her first #Wimbledon semi-final 👏 pic.twitter.com/AWlIo5Jsbg
"It feels great. Even though it's the middle of the tournament I got goosebumps after this win," she said.
"I've really enjoyed playing this year and hopefully it’s going to last as long as possible. This year I feel I can work with it."
