Iga Swiatek has joined Aryna Sabalenka and Amanda Anisimova in the Wimbledon semi-finals after a straight-sets victory over Liudmila Samsonova.
The No8 seed won 6-2 7-5 against her Russian opponent, who was seeded as the No19 and was competing in her first Grand Slam quarter-final.
Swiatek is a five-time Grand Slam champion but victory makes her a semi-finalist at the All England Club for the first time.
The Pole confidently took the first set 6-2 on Court No1 as her opponent struggled to contain her power.
Swiatek was 3-1 up in the second set when she was broken back, but Samsonova could not regain parity as her delivery was then breached for 4-2.
Samsonova got herself back to 5-5, but the former world No1 proved too strong, earning the crucial break and taking the match in straight sets by claiming the second 7-5.
She will face the unseeded Swiss Belinda Bencic in the semi-finals on Thursday.
“Honestly, it feels great,” she said in her on-court interview afterwards. “I have goosebumps after this win. I am super happy and super proud of myself and I will keep going.
“I really enjoy playing [on grass] this year and hopefully it is going to last as long as possible. I worked hard to progress here on this surface. It is a pleasure to play in front of you guys so thank you for the support.
“I will recover today, try not to celebrate too much but already focus on the next one, prepare in the evening and I will be ready tomorrow.”
