By Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | Monday, July 7, 2025
Photo credit: Glynn Kirk/AFP/Getty
Liudmila Samsonova barely uttered a word during today’s Wimbledon fourth-round clash.
A silent Samsonova was too busy striking declarative drives to blast into her maiden Wimbledon quarterfinal.
Contesting her 21st career major, Samsonova stopped Spaniard Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 7-5, 7-5, on No. 2 Court to advance to her first major quarterfinal in what she called one of the most emotional wins of her life.
“It’s my first quarterfinal, so it’s like really emotional,” said Samsonova, who saved nine of 12 break points today. “I think, like, it was a really tough match because she was playing unbelievable on grass this week.
“I didn’t have, like, so many spots where I can play and say, Okay, that’s going to be the right one. It was tough. She was playing amazing. So I don’t know how I survive, honestly.”
The 19th-seeded Samsonova is shy and polite off court and not very demonstrative on court.
A tremendous talent who hits a big ball, Samsonova prefers to let her screaming shots—particularly her explosive forehand—do the talking. Perhaps that’s one reason why she tends to fly under the radar.
Yet elite opponents respect the former world No. 12, who was born in Olenegorsk, Russia and grew up training in Rome after her family moved to Italy. That’s because so many have felt her jolting power and know, when she’s on her game, she can dictate play on grass against just about anyone she faces.
Two of Samsonova’s five career championships—2021 Berlin and 2024 ‘s-Hertogenbosch—have come on grass where her flat strikes are so tough to repel.
In last month’s Wimbledon tune-up tournament in Berlin, Samsonova turned tennis ball into a wrecking ball defeating four-time major champion Naomi Osaka, US Open finalist Jessica Pegula and Queen’s Club finalist Amanda Anisimova in succession before she ran out of gas in a semifinal loss.
This wondrous Wimbledon run is the result of Samsonova spending years learning how to channel her prodigious power, add some finesse, including the slice backhand and a drop shot and clearing her mind of self-imposed pressure to permit her best tennis to flow in majors.
Samsonova said today she’s worked to establish her identity on court—and that has brought clarity to her game.
“I think it’s because of just every person is growing in different time, like the maturity of the person. It’s different from anyone,” Samsonova said. “So I think I’m starting to know very well who I am, which player I am, and everything.
“The puzzle is just going, like, everything together. I think this is the result of all the work that I’ve done in the past years. It’s tough to have, like, to compete every week when you are just growing and you have many, you know, many things in your head.”
To alleviate some pressure, Samsonova’s routine includes avoiding social media because she doesn’t want to know upcoming opponents too far in advance.
“Don’t think about too early because I’m starting to burning my mind. Overthink, yeah,” Samsonova said, adding it’s easier for her to avoid draw news because “social media doesn’t care about me.”
If she continues this dynamic play, soon the tennis world will be caring quite a bit about her.
Spoiler alert: Samsonova faces former No. 1 Iga Swiatek, who beat Clara Tauson today, for a semifinal spot.
Informed of Samsonova’s superstition of refusing to read the draw, Swiatek joked “I’ll tell her.”
Swiatek has swept all four of their prior meetings, including a 6-4, 6-1 win in the US Open round of 16 last summer. In total, Swiatek has surrendered just 10 games to Samsonova in their last three meetings.
Still, former Wimbledon girls’ champion Swiatek said she’s not surprised by this Samsonova surge because she’s at her best on faster surfaces.
“Well, I know she can play great. We played some tight matches,” Swiatek said. “I remember the one in Stuttgart, it was super intense. Yeah, she’s a player that likes also fast surfaces.
“It’s not a surprise for me that she can play well here. She also had some upsets, winning against the big players. She’s pretty experienced. For sure it’s going to be a challenge.
“She’s in quarterfinals, so she’s had a great tournament already. She knows how to play here. I’ll just prepare the same way as before any other match, and I’ll be ready.”
Clearly, the five-time major champion is a massive favorite in the match. Though Swiatek has yet to win a grass-court crown, while Samsonova has two lawn titles to her credit so if she’s ever going to beat the Pole, SW19 is the ideal place to do it.
The question is: Can Samsonova hold her nerve and whip her flat forehand into Swiatek’s heavy topspin forehand with enough accuracy and pace to rush the Pole?
The subdued Samsonova, who grew up idolizing Maria Sharapova, said she’s intent on making major noise in her best Grand Slam run to date.
Don’t discount the most overlooked woman still standing in the field. Even if she bows to Swiatek, this Wimbledon run reveals the Samsonova Slam story is only starting.
“It’s incredible first standing, stay here, and to be in the position to have the chance to play quarterfinal of a Grand Slam,” Samsonova said. “Second, I think I’m going to try to play my game again as good as I can.
“I will try my best. I think I can do well. I mean, I can play a great match.”
