Swiatek survives scare to set up Svitolina clash

Women's top seed Iga Swiatek survived a huge scare before reaching the Wimbledon quarter-finals for the first time on Sunday.

Poland's Swiatek looked in big trouble against Switzerland's Olympic champion Belinda Bencic and saved two match points in the second set before clawing out a 6-7(4) 7-6(2) 6-3 victory.

She lived to fight another day but it was a mighty close shave for the 22-year-old who has never quite mastered grass despite becoming the dominant force in women's tennis.

Bencic, the 14th seed, proved a frustrating obstacle for Swiatek with the four-time Grand Slam champion struggling to master her opponent for the majority of an intriguing tussle.

As the evening gloom set in, Swiatek eventually got a handle on her opponent's game, moving clear in the final set before wrapping up victory after more than three hours.

Bencic will look back at the two match points she had at 5-6 in the second set, the first saved with a powerful Swiatek forehand and the second with a backhand winner.

"I don't know if I even came back from match point down in my career," Swiatek said in her on court interview. "I feel I needed the win to believe in myself on this surface."

Next up for Swiatek will be former semi-finalist Svitolina who has enjoyed a remarkable comeback from becoming a mother last year, reaching the quarter-finals of the French Open.