The US Open
Wimbledon 2025 Women’s Day 10
Iga Swiatek broke through to set up a battle of first-time Wimbledon semi-finalists posting a 6-2, 7-5 defeat of Liudmila Samsonova on Wednesday and lining up to take on Belinda Bencic.
The Swiss who became a mother 15 months ago, defeated teenaged talent Mirra Andreeva 7-6 (3), 7-6 (2) to claim her own debut final four spot at the All England club.
Five-time grand Slam champion Swiatek owns four clay titles at Roland Garros and has now surpassed her quarter-final here two years ago.
She led Samsonova a set and 3-0 before needing to fight to hold onto her margin; swiatek won seven straight games before her opponent stopped the rot for 1-3 in the second.
The former world No. 1 saved eight of 10 break points and got the last word on Court No. 1 as she broke in the final game to secure victory with a return winner after nearly two hours.
Swiatek said that her appreciation of grass is growing with each victory as she breaks new ground on the surface.
“It feels great, I’m getting goosebumps,” the winner said. “I’m super happy and proud of myself/ I want to keep going.”
Swiatek, a former Wimbledon junior champion, said her preparation is paying off.
“I’m enjoying grass this year, hopefully I can keep this up as long as possible. We worked hard to prepare on this surface, I feel I can work with it.”
Bencic became the first Swiss to get this far here since Martina Navratilova in 1997 as she out-hit Andreeva in their tight quarter-final.
The Swiss served for victory but was broken, though she doubled down to earn victory in a second tiebreaker with an overhead winner at the net.
From a ranking of near 500 at the start of this comeback season, Bencic will return to the top 20 as a result of her success here.
Her only other Grand Slam semi came at the US Open six years ago.
“We made a game plan and it worked out well,” the winner said. “Two tiebreaks were not easy but there was a small edge for me.
“At some point your instincts kick in, you have to put pressure on your opponent.
“I’m just happy I won today. To be in the semi-finals is unbelievable, a dream come true. I tried not to think about it at match point.”
Bencic added: “I’m very proud of my return, we’ve worked so hard on it. To play this great is amazing, I’m speechless.
“I’m just happy to be playing again.”
Main photo:- Iga Swiatek celebrates quarter final win – by Roger Parker International Sports Fotos
ATP
Positive vibes after RG takes player crisis meeting
The peace talks came after a Friday interview boycott by most top players, who limited their pre-event interactions with media to 15 minutes while snubbing TV broadcasters.
Players are asking for a larger share of Grand Slam prize money, aiming for a rise from 15 to 22 per cent, a figure well below payouts in other spots.
French federation (FFT) officials promised a response to the demands in the immediate future. Confrontations with Wimbledon and the US Open are also likely to proceed during the Paris fortnight.
The Australian Open has already sided with the players when the issue first arose earlier this season.
The FFT “has committed to responding to the players’ proposals in the coming weeks,” the ruling body said.
Players are seeking a closer involvement in the big decisions of the sport along with increased health insurance and retirement benefits.
Sinner, with USD 56 million already in career prize money at age 24, might do well to follow the example of retired icon Roger Federer, who earned 130 million on court and much more off it,
The Swiss, reportedly now a tennis billionaire, often said he would not be needing his ATP pension but was happy to work on behalf of other players.
Strasbourg
Raducanu plays coaching lottery with return to her OG
Emma Raducanu has gone back to the future with her latest choice of coach, choosing to re-group with the mentor who helped her to a US Open title five long years ago.
The Briton whose career has been a patchwork of changing coaches and near-constant injuries and illness since her 2021 big day in New York, revealed she has re-employed Andrew Richardson, her OG coach.
The pair split not long after then-teenaged Raducanu won the Open title from an unprecedented qualifying start.
She has since struggled and wil head to Roland Garros from next Sunday with only one clay tournament, a late wild-card entry into Strasbourg.
“Grateful to have reconnected with someone who has known me for over a decade now and looking forward to building together one iteration at a time,” she posted on social media.
The WTA no. 30 has played just 15 matches this season – none on clay – with her last one more than two months ago.
Main photo:- Emma Raducanu with her coach, Andrew Richardson at the 2021 US Open
The Australian Open
Wimbledon goes modern with electronic reviews
Wimbledon will bow to the high-tech future by introducing limited electronic reviews of line calls on major courts at the Championships, the club revealed on Saturday.
The All England Club will allow the technology on showcourts including Centre Court, No. 1 and four others. During controversial moments, competitors will be allowed to ask the chair umpire for a review of the point in question.
The wizardry is coming late to Wimbledon having been used at the US Open since 2023 and later adapted by the Australian Open. Roland Garros relies on marks in its clay surface to determine line calls.
Under the rules, players can ask for the review any number of times, with electronic line-calling now in effect at the grass-court major for a second year after the 2025 elimination of human line judges.
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