Initially, Liudmila Samsonova posed a significant challenge to Iga Swiatek as she successfully held serve in the first set four times, showcasing a powerful serve that reached speeds of up to 117 mph. This put Swiatek, the world No. 1, on the defensive.
However, Swiatek quickly took control of the match, losing only one more game for the remainder of the contest. Having previously won the U.S. Open singles title in 2022, Swiatek’s 6-4, 6-1 victory in the Round of 16 on Monday brought her closer to her sixth Grand Slam title while aiming to replicate her success in Queens.
“At the beginning, we were just holding serve, going back and forth,” Swiatek remarked after the match. “But I’m glad I waited for the right moments and capitalized on my return game.”
To distance herself from Samsonova, Swiatek needed to secure a break. She likened the early stages of the match to men’s tennis, with both players holding serve repeatedly for the first nine games. Yet, Swiatek then surged ahead, winning four of the next five points to lead 5-4, ultimately holding serve to claim the first set.
The Polish player dominated from that point onward, claiming the first five games of the second set. While Samsonova managed to hold serve to stave off match point, Swiatek’s third ace set up another opportunity to win. When Samsonova’s return went out, Swiatek sealed the match.
This round marked the moment last year when Swiatek’s hopes for a repeat title ended in an upset against No. 20 Jelena Ostapenko. Despite a challenging past at the tournament, where she experienced several early exits, Swiatek has shown consistent success on clay.
To reach the finals again, Swiatek must defeat No. 6 Jessica Pegula, who is eager to reach her first Grand Slam semifinal after a series of near-miss attempts.
Swiatek previously faced Pegula at this stage during the 2022 quarterfinals, where she went on to claim the title and felt a strong connection with the ball during the match.
Aryna Sabalenka, the No. 2 seed and last year’s finalist, also poses a potential challenge on the other side of the draw.
“Playing against Pegula is always tough,” Swiatek noted. “She’s in great form right now.”
For now, however, Swiatek is navigating the tournament successfully.