For three successive years before 2025, Iga Swiatek has arrived at Wimbledon with the headlines centred around her. The biggest narrative arc of the women’s draw at the Championships would be if Swiatek could take her clay form, where she has won four French Open titles and the previous three back-to-back, to the grass. Her strengths and weapons are so suited to the high-bouncing crushed brick that the slick, fast-playing grass where the ball stays low would give her trouble as she immediately transitioned from a taxing campaign in Paris.
This year, the Polish 24-year-old evaded the pre-tournament expectations altogether. With her clay crown having been taken away in the semifinal a few weeks prior, her ranking slipping so low that she was seeded eighth at Wimbledon, and her trophyless run extending beyond one year, she was not expected to play even a disruptor role at SW19.
On Wednesday, she showed just how useful it can be to fly under the radar. Following a performance that may not have been commanding but was consistent and secure – a blueprint for her success throughout this tournament – Swiatek defeated 19th seed Liudmila Samsonova 6-2, 7-5 in the quarterfinal to reach the final four for the first time at Wimbledon.
That first #Wimbledon semi-final feeling ☺️ pic.twitter.com/Jh248MKyVS
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 9, 2025
Neither winners nor serves or returns proved to be the key. Instead, it was the restraint she held and the calm she showed in swatting aside a spirited fightback from a rising challenger. Just as Samsonova built up momentum and produced her best, Swiatek did not overreact – going for big groundstrokes or playing too aggressive – but instead rode out the storm, hanging in rallies with more neutral shots and finding the right time to pull the trigger.
Swiatek may have been a set up, but in the second, at 5-5, she trailed 0-30. That was exactly the kind of moment where she would previously crack. But with confidence back in her game after a solid run (despite her sky-high standards) at the French Open and having reached a final at a grass tuneup in Germany this month, she dug deep and stayed calm to knock a few winners and within a few minutes, put her opponent away decisively.
She is now only the fourth active player – after Victoria Azarenka, Karolina Pliskova, and Aryna Sabalenka – to reach the final four at each of the four Grand Slam tournaments.
The idea that grass is Swiatek’s Achilles’ heel may be a bit exaggerated – she won the junior title at the All England Club back in 2018. Instead, it is her approach that has often failed her. Playing ultra-aggressive all the time allowed her to put together a commanding run between 2022 and 2024, in which she held on to the World No. 1 ranking for most of it and blasted past opponents with dismay. Nowhere was this attribute more pronounced than at Roland Garros.
“I’ve already got goosebumps”
Iga Swiatek’s loving her time at #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/6OaGPKqqKn
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 9, 2025
But arriving at Wimbledon immediately after always came with its challenges. Her extreme western grip makes the serve-to-forehand transition a tad slower, making her serve vulnerable when she is rushed. Her topspin-laden forehand does not find the zip when she meets the ball outside her hitting zone since it bounces low on grass. Coco Gauff shares both these attributes, and after winning the French Open this year, she was out in the first round at Wimbledon.
But with time and a little grass court experience under her feet – aided by the draw opening up as top seeds fell early – she has found success without changing her game but her playing style. Rather than going for broke on every point, she goes into her toolbox to find those deft touches, drop shots, and net finishes. Her serve has also been unusually solid: she has won 77.4% of the points on her first serve at Wimbledon, per Opta, which is the highest in the women’s draw.
Jazda! 🇵🇱
Iga Swiatek defeats Liudmila Samsonova 6-2, 7-5 to reach her first #Wimbledon semi-final 👏 pic.twitter.com/AWlIo5Jsbg
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 9, 2025
In the semifinal on Thursday, she faces Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic. The unseeded 28-year-old has made a remarkable run at SW19 just a year after giving birth, despite having missed all the Majors in 2024. She too, found some luck with the draw, and then played a formidable match to beat seventh-seeded Mirra Andreeva in two tiebreakers on Wednesday.
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Swiatek’s newfound serenity is working, but will be put to the test in the coming few days. For now, the grass must definitely feel greener on her side.
