Green is now the colour for Wimbledon hopeful Świątek
By James Toney at Wimbledon
Wimbledon can be a tough place to be if green is not your colour.
But Iga Świątek might finally be learning to enjoy having the grass beneath her feet, having booked her place in the semi-finals for the first time in five attempts at the All England Club.
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She may have five Grand Slam titles, but in her previous visits to SW19, a single quarter-final was her best return — though she did win the junior title here as a 17-year-old.
Liudmila Samsonova was the latest victim of her improvement on the surface, the Polish player imperious during the first set but stuttering in the second, advancing 6-2, 7-5.
A dream final against her rival Aryna Sabalenka — who taught her a lesson on the clay courts of Roland Garros that she so adores last month — looms this weekend, if results go according to plan, which has not often been the case in recent days.
Świątek's final-four opponent, Belinda Bencic, who ended the teenage dreams of Mirra Andreeva, is eyeing history of her own as she bids to become the first mother to win a singles title here since Evonne Goolagong in 1981.
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"I didn't lose on purpose all those times to prove that I'm bad," joked Świątek.
"The year I won juniors here it was super hot and the grass was already not really grass — it played more like clay. Perhaps this year is the same.
"I feel like I've developed as a player and I've had time to practise a little bit more on the surface. Match by match, my confidence has improved at these Championships.
"A Grand Slam final is never easy and I have a lot of respect for Belinda. I can only imagine how difficult it is to come back from pregnancy, but I never doubted she could do it. She has the game to play really well on grass."
Andreeva's time will come. Her ten wins in Slams this year make her the youngest player to achieve that feat since Caroline Wozniacki in 2008.
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However, Bencic, the 2020 Olympic champion, edged two tie-breaks to progress, though she has lost three of her four meetings with Świątek — including here at Wimbledon two years ago. Both are former junior champions at the All England Club, though five years separate those triumphs.
"Iga is very physical and puts a lot of spin on the ball. I'll have to take the ball really early, play a little bit more flat," said Bencic.
"I'm able to adapt to my opponent and I think that's what makes my game, but we'll discuss tactics and come up with a plan."
Bencic had never been beyond the fourth round at Wimbledon before this week, but admits she has a new approach after missing last year following the birth of her daughter, Bella.
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"It's a different perspective, but I'm still focused," she said.
"It's just really natural at this point, and sometimes I think it's even better when I'm not too focused.
"I'm just doing what I have to do. It's not something that is calculated. I am able to switch on when I'm on the court and relax when I'm not."
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