THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 7, 2025

Liudmila Samsonova

Press Conference

L. SAMSONOVA/J. Bouzas Maneiro

7-5, 7-5

THE MODERATOR: Well done today. Could you just talk a little bit about the match?

LIUDMILA SAMSONOVA: It's my first quarterfinal, so it's like really emotional. 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 MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. I think ever since you won Berlin, I think people have thought you could do great at Wimbledon. Have you always felt that way since then, too? How does it feel to have a biggest result so far here?

LIUDMILA SAMSONOVA: Honestly, I talked to my coach years ago. I said, You know, I can play good at Wimbledon, I guess. Of course, you need to adjust your game to improve every time. I was confident that I can do well here, honestly, yeah.

Q. Could you describe the difference in how you feel when you're at a Grand Slam tournament compared to when you're at a non-Grand Slam tournament, because you've won so many matches on the tour, and it hasn't necessarily translated to the Grand Slams until now?

LIUDMILA SAMSONOVA: You know, Grand Slam, it's different. It's like a different tournament, a totally different pressure. Every time that you arrive to a Grand Slam, you feel the pressure. I think everyone feel it. It's tough because of that.

You feel that pressure, which is different from other tournaments. I don't know why, but maybe because it's just called 'Grand Slam' and, you know, it's a dream of everyone.

Q. You mentioned at the beginning that it's emotional for you, your first quarterfinals here. What are those emotions, and how would you describe the opportunity you have now to go even further?

LIUDMILA SAMSONOVA: I mean, no, it's incredible first standing, stay here, and to be in the position to have the chance to play quarterfinal of a Grand Slam.

Second, I think I'm going to try to play my game again as good as I can. I don't know. I will try my best. I think I can do well.

I mean, I can play a great match.

Q. You also mentioned earlier that you thought from early on that you would do well on grass and could do well here. How about your first memories of Wimbledon watching from far away and what you thought about maybe the future for you when you would be at the age that you could play?

LIUDMILA SAMSONOVA: So I have great memories from juniors. I remember I was here in juniors, and I was watching like the best players in the world. It was amazing. Like, I was thinking, Oh, wow, it can be amazing if I can get there one day.

Of course, I was watching even when I was, like, really, really young, but the best memories I had when I was juniors. It's incredible. I was dreaming (smiling).

Q. On 'Behind the Racquet' recently you said when you were younger you struggled because you didn't know who you were or what your personality was. Can you describe the process of finding yourself over the years to become who you are now?

LIUDMILA SAMSONOVA: 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. 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, things in your head.

Q. I just wanted to ask about Hawk-Eye because I just wanted to know if yesterday's error, if you've lost trust in the system?

LIUDMILA SAMSONOVA: I don't know which error was.

Q. Just on Centre Court yesterday, it was switched off for a game. I spoke to some players today saying maybe they think their own shots have gone out. Cilic thought his was that far out.

LIUDMILA SAMSONOVA: Why they were playing until it was going back?

Q. They only noticed after the fact that it had actually been off.

LIUDMILA SAMSONOVA: Oh, they didn't know during?

Q. It took about three points before they realized. Yeah, I'm sorry because you're in a quarter final. It's amazing, but...

LIUDMILA SAMSONOVA: Honestly, I like the automatic call, in general. Of course, when there are these things, what I can say? I mean, it's tough for players. But in general I like it.

Q. So you have no doubts of the accuracy and stuff?

LIUDMILA SAMSONOVA: No, honestly not.

Q. I watched your match against Pegula in Berlin. How important was that for your confidence on grass this year?

LIUDMILA SAMSONOVA: I think it was like, you know when you have to climb the mountain, it was that one. When I won that match, I did something special, something that I was searching from since a lot of time. It was something that gave me so much confidence, that match. It was unbelievable.

Q. Two quick questions about this tournament. Is this the biggest achievement of your career so far, do you think?

LIUDMILA SAMSONOVA: Maybe together with the final in the 1000 that I made in Beijing and Montreal. Okay, I mean, it's different, but pretty similar.

Q. Maybe the most emotional one?

LIUDMILA SAMSONOVA: For sure, for sure, yes.

Q. You were saying earlier that you remember being young and watching this tournament and as a junior. Which players do you remember seeing?

LIUDMILA SAMSONOVA: Sharapova. I was always watching Maria. She was my idol. I was always searching for her.

Then I remember on Court 2 I was watching Garbine Muguruza. She was playing that year she won this tournament. So I remember that.

Q. What did you admire most about Maria and then about Muguruza?

LIUDMILA SAMSONOVA: About Maria, she was so - how do you say - her mind?

Q. Determined?

LIUDMILA SAMSONOVA: Amazing. Mentally so, so strong. And Garbine also I guess, honestly. They have both a great personality.

Q. What do you remember about when they held The Championships trophy, what do you remember thinking and feeling at that moment?

LIUDMILA SAMSONOVA: I would like also to try one day to do the same.

Q. About the Pegula match, did you know that was the first time you had won from match point down in a WTA tournament?

LIUDMILA SAMSONOVA: No.

Q. That was the first time.

LIUDMILA SAMSONOVA: No, I didn't know.

Q. I thought that's what you were talking about.

LIUDMILA SAMSONOVA: Okay, okay.

Q. The second question is a fun one, but as someone who was raised in Italy, so you've been in Italy since you were 1. I don't know if you saw Iga Swiatek talk about pasta with strawberries. I would like to get your reaction.

LIUDMILA SAMSONOVA: I cannot say anything about that I'm Italian, so I cannot say that (laughing).

Q. Say anything you want.

LIUDMILA SAMSONOVA: For Italian people, it's something crazy. Like, it's not even in the -- it's not impossible to dream about this (laughing). This is true, yeah.

Q. I'm just curious, do you always like to not know who you are playing --

LIUDMILA SAMSONOVA: Always, always.

Q. -- or just here?

LIUDMILA SAMSONOVA: No, always, always, yeah.

Q. When will you find out?

LIUDMILA SAMSONOVA: It's already few years.

Q. Before the match, yeah.

LIUDMILA SAMSONOVA: Tomorrow, at the end of the day.

Q. How do you avoid that then?

LIUDMILA SAMSONOVA: You know, I don't know. Social media, they don't care about me. So honestly, I don't have this problem right now, so it's easy for me.

Q. But why is it that you don't want to know?

LIUDMILA SAMSONOVA: It's helping me mentally.

Q. In what way?

LIUDMILA SAMSONOVA: Don't think about too early because I'm starting to burning my mind. Overthink, yeah.