Tennis-Ball whisperer Swiatek bludgeons Samsonova to reach first Wimbledon semi

Tennis - Wimbledon - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - July 9, 2025 Poland's Iga Swiatek celebrates after winning her quarter final match against Russia's Liudmila Samsonova REUTERS/Andrew Couldridge

LONDON (Reuters) -The balls kept on listening to Iga Swiatek on Wednesday as the Polish eighth seed walloped Liudmila Samsonova 6-2 7-5 to reach the Wimbledon semi-finals for the first time.

After years of nightmare outings at the spiritual home of lawn tennis, Swiatek appears to have finally conquered her grasscourt demons as she said the "ball has been really listening" to her at Wimbledon this year.