Elina Svitolina Wins As Iga Swiatek Fights Back To Beat Belinda Bencic

Top seed Iga Swiatek saved two match points to fend off Olympic champion Belinda Bencic in thrilling fashion to reach a first Wimbledon quarter-final.

The Polish world number one was on the brink of losing out to Bencic’s high-risk strategy before recovering to win 6-7 (4-7) 7-6 (7-2) 6-3.

Swiatek faces Elina Svitolina next after the Ukrainian beat Victoria Azarenka in another women’s classic that was going on at the same time.

Svitolina won that 2-6 6-4 7-6 (11-9).

On a day at Wimbledon that showcased some of the best women’s tennis from Grand Slam heavyweights like Swiatek, Azarenka and Svitolina, there was also a stunning performance from the next generation in the shape of Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva.

The 16-year-old qualifier won her rain-delayed third-round match against compatriot Anastasia Potapova 6-2 7-5 to advance in her first tournament on grass.

Meanwhile, American fourth seed Jessica Pegula put in a dominant display to beat Ukrainian world number 60 Lesia Tsurenko 6-1 6-3 and reach the last eight for the first time.

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Swiatek recovers from the brink to win
If Pegula’s was a straightforward victory, then Swiatek’s was anything but as Swiss 14th seed Bencic repeatedly dug herself out of trouble in remarkable style.

Bencic had got off to a poor start, only her incredible ability to save break points – all six of six – was keeping her in a first set where Swiatek was unwavering on her own serve.

But she raced to a 5-1 lead in the tie-break before getting a taste of her own medicine as Swiatek pulled it back to 6-4 but the Pole then hit long to give away her first set of the tournament.

Swiatek took a bathroom break at the end of the first set, taking a notebook with her, and when she returned it looked as if the notes had provided her with some answers as she immediately broke.

But, as she showed so many times in that first set, Bencic pulls out her best tennis at the right times.

The Swiss got the break back as Swiatek seemed to tighten up in the sixth game of the second and she continued the momentum to create two match points at 6-5.

But just at the moment when she needed it most, that ability to win the crucial points deserted her as she failed to return a deep shot from Swiatek, who then hit a winner on the next point to shut down the danger.

Swiatek then took charge of the resulting tie-break – in what was the first time the Pole, often known for her one-sided wins, has been taken to two tie-breaks in a match.

Bencic had a chance to go a break up in the third game of the third set but netted what proved to be her last chance to lead the world number one.

Swiatek broke in the next game for a 4-1 lead and there would be no more great escapes for Bencic, who finally succumbed when Swiatek hit a brilliant forehand cross-court winner on her first match point with three hours and three minutes on the clock.

“It wasn’t easy obviously, I don’t even know if that happened in my career where I came back from match point down,” Swiatek said in her on-court interview.

“I feel like I needed that win to believe in myself a little bit more on this surface.”

Svitolina’s ‘second happiest moment’ after giving birth
Ukrainian wildcard Svitolina’s superb run continued against Belarusian 19th seed Victoria Azarenka in a contest that gripped the Count One crowd at the same time as Swiatek’s match was doing the same on Centre Court.

With the Russia-led war in Ukraine supported by Belarus, the match was played amid a backdrop of tension and the circumstances led Svitolina to say she had been given “extra motivation” to win.

The former world number three made a slow start, but grew into the match as her confidence and quality returned.

The noise made by a partisan Court One crowd was incredible as Svitolina completed a memorable win – just 10 months after giving birth to daughter Skai in October.

“After giving birth to my daughter this is the second happiest moment of my life,” Svitolina said.

Azarenka, 33, was booed off court after the pair did not shake hands, despite Svitolina making that decision having not shaken hands with any Russian or Belarusian players since the war started.

Hearing the jeers, she paused to question why and made a gesture to the crowd before disappearing.

Pegula completes set of Grand Slam quarter-finals
On Saturday, Pegula had pulled out of the mixed doubles with a back injury but she did not seem to be troubled by that in a confident display against Tsurenko that suggested she has the belief she will need if she is to claim a maiden Grand Slam singles title.

The roof was open on Court One as dry weather and sunshine returned to the All England Club after a rain-disrupted week.

Instead it was Pegula’s powerful shots that were raining on the court, and Tsurenko – who had spent almost three hours more on court than her opponent this week – could simply not deal with what kept coming her way.

Pegula, who has now completed the full set of Grand Slam singles quarter-finals, will face 2019 French Open finalist Marketa Vondrousova next after the Czech beat compatriot Marie Bouzkova 2-6 6-4 6-3 earlier in the day.