Anisimova has a great record against Sabalenka, with the American leading their head-to-head 5-3 after eight matches on the WTA Tour. Sabalenka won their most recent clash in the last 16 of the French Open earlier this year – but Anisimova usually gets the better of her.

Anisimova advanced this year after beating Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.

After racing through the first set in 38 minutes, Swiatek was handed an early break in the second when Samsonova twice double faulted and it seemed like she would make similarly swift progress.

The Wimbledon women's singles semi-finals take centre stage at the All England Club on Thursday. World number one Aryna Sabalenka plays American 13th seed Amanda Anisimova in a rematch of their French Open fourth-round match last month,

this match hinges on "Sabalenka's racket".

"I definitely think that this surface suits her game really well," Sabalenka, who has lost five of her eight matches against Anisimova, told reporters.