Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the WTA Wimbledon match.
Iga Swiatek, after an extended spell without a title, will be determined to reassert herself at the summit of the women’s game, while Liudmila Samsonova has broken new ground by reaching this stage of a Grand Slam for the first time. On grass, this quarter-final promises a tightly contested affair.
Iga Swiatek
Iga Swiatek has endured an uncharacteristically inconsistent season and, for the first time in recent memory, has fallen outside the top three in the WTA standings. Though she handled the early rounds in London with relative authority, Swiatek has struggled to maintain her level against top-20 opposition. In four of her last six matches against players of that calibre, the total number of games reached at least 21. Her round of 16 performance against Clara Tauson exposed her vulnerabilities, particularly on second serve, where Iga won just 11% of points—an indicator of both technical and mental challenges under pressure.
Liudmila Samsonova
By contrast, Liudmila Samsonova enters this match in excellent form. She has suffered only one defeat in her last three weeks of competition and has taken at least one set in eight of her last nine matches on grass. Her aggressive baseline game, effective return, and powerful shot-making—both cross-court and down the line—present a serious test. In three of her four matches at this tournament, the Russian has allowed her opponents no more than five games. The only exception was a more closely contested clash against Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, which she won 7:5, 7:5. In that match, Samsonova won 73% of points behind her first serve and delivered four aces.
Iga Swiatek vs Liudmila Samsonova Prediction
Liudmila Samsonova is likely to test Iga Swiatek throughout. The Pole has often found it difficult to impose herself against high-level opposition, and the Russian is well-positioned to claim a set and extend the contest.
