Wimbledon 2025: Bencic dreaming with semi-finals set

Bencic beaming with pride

Mirra Andreeva has long been tipped to lift a Grand Slam, but the teenage prodigy will have to wait until at least New York, because Belinda Bencic's comeback from maternity took another significant step on Centre Court.

The Swiss, last in a Grand Slam semi-final at US Open 2019, returned to the Tour last October and began the 2025 season ranked at No.489. The 28-year-old emboldened her remarkable  resurgence with a 7-6(3), 7-6(2) triumph over No.7 seed Andreeva. The racket went flying, the tears were rolling.

"It’s crazy – it's unbelievable - it’s a dream come true," said the world No.35. "I’m speechless. It’s only the second semi in a Grand Slam for me – first at Wimbledon.

"I was studying her all evening yesterday to find a plan of what to do and I think the game plan worked.

"I’m very proud. All my career, I didn’t say it a lot to myself – but after having Bella (her daughter) I really say it to myself every day."

Bencic has plenty of experience to call upon, having made her major debut at Wimbledon 11 years ago. It came in handy in the second set. Andreeva ignited a comeback at 4-5 down, denying Bencic serving it out. Instead the former world No.4 commanded another tie-break to keep on dreaming.

"I'm really happy with the win, of course. It was a very close match. I stayed brave and stuck to the plan," added Bencic. "I'm really excited to play the semi-finals tomorrow. Of course, it doesn't end here."

Iga moving on up

Bencic will vie for a maiden Grand Slam final over the net from Iga Swiatek.

The four-time Roland-Garros champion and US Open 2022 winner has booked a first Wimbledon semi-final with a 6-2, 7-5 scoreline facing No.19 seed Liudmila Samsonova.

In doing so, Swiatek is the first Polish player in the Open Era to make the women's singles semi-finals in all four Grand Slams.

"I feel like I developed as a player, and I had time to practice little bit more," claimed the 24-year-old, sparking into form on grass with a runner-up run in Bad Homburg just prior to heading to south-west London. "Match by match my confidence, for sure, went up so that I can use it on this Championship."

The movement has been a key area of improvement, Swiatek has been explosive out of the corners, agile in defence and attack.

"I for sure feel like all these years on grass helped," stated the Pole, who was a girls' singles champion at Wimbledon 2018. "It's not like I would win the pro tournament with my junior game, so for sure I needed some time to, like, learn and to just get better."

Sinner and Djokovic deliver blockbuster

Flavio Cobolli - in a first ever Grand Slam quarter-final, in his first ever appearance on the Centre Court grass - and No.10 seed Ben Shelton gave it everything, but the greatness of Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner glistened in the summer sunshine.

Djokovic, chasing the all-time leading 25th major, defiantly held off Cobolli 6-7(6), 6-2, 7-5, 6-4 to serve up a record 14th men's singles semi-final at SW19, as well as a mind-boggling record-extending 52nd Grand Slam semi-final.

"First I have to say huge congratulations to Flavio for an amazing tournament and also a great battle today. I saw him play here and I knew he was playing well. He was serving at a really fast pace, going for his shots. He's such a talented and skillful player, definitely one of the guys we will be seeing more in the future so I wish him all the best and his team," said the gracious seven-time Wimbledon champion.

"It means the world to me that at 38 I am able to play in the final stages of Wimbledon. Competing with youngsters makes me feel young, like Cobolli today. I enjoy running and sliding around the court.

"Speaking of the young guys, I will have Sinner in the next round so I look forward to that. That is going to be a great match-up."

Sinner, wearing a protective right-arm sleeve following a nasty fall in the fourth round, was clinical in dispatching the force of cannonball-serving Shelton 7-6(2), 6-4, 6-4 on No.1 Court.

“I’m very, very happy. Wimbledon is the most special tournament in the calendar so being again in the last four here means a lot to me," stated the world No.1, before giving an injury update.

“When you’re in a match with a lot of tension, you try not to think about it. It has improved a lot of from yesterday (Tuesday), when I had 20 minutes on the practice courts with my coaches. But I’m looking forward to it now, no excuse, and there is no better stage to play tennis.”