TENNIS: Swiatek banks on Nadal's former coach to reignite her season

Iga Swiatek is eager to kickstart her claycourt season at the Stuttgart Open this week, following a rocky start to the year. The world number four, who has six Grand Slam titles to her name, is now working with new coach Francisco Roig, hoping to benefit from his vast experience and technical expertise.

Swiatek’s 2026 season got off to a disappointing start, with early exits at the Australian Open, Doha, and Indian Wells. A shock second-round loss to Magda Linette at the Miami Open last month marked another setback, prompting Swiatek to part ways with her previous coach, Wim Fissette. She quickly hired Roig, the renowned coach who previously worked with Rafael Nadal for nearly two decades and more recently with Briton Emma Raducanu.

"I'm really happy to start with Francis," Swiatek said in a press conference at Stuttgart. "I was looking for someone with a keen eye, really technical, but also with enough experience to help me through various situations. I feel Francisco has been through everything on tour."

Swiatek is relieved to have found a new coach so quickly, providing a sense of security as she continues her season. “It’s going really amazing… I was able to find a new coach pretty fast, which is a positive thing because when you do that in the middle of the season, it’s nice to have some security in that.”

The 21-year-old Polish star, who has won four French Open titles on clay, has already begun her preparations for the upcoming Grand Slam, which begins on May 24. Swiatek spent time at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca, where she trained under Nadal's watchful eye. “I asked if it would be possible for him to come and maybe be some kind of inspiration, also to hear some feedback from him,” Swiatek explained.

While Swiatek didn’t have high expectations given Nadal’s busy schedule, she cherished the opportunity to work with the tennis legend. “It was a privilege to have him on court,” she said. "Now I’ll continue with Francisco. He'll be the person that takes care of the whole process. That’s the plan for now."

With her new coach and the guidance of Nadal, Swiatek is ready to take on the claycourt season and prepare for another French Open title bid.

-Reporting by Rishabh Jaiswal in Bengaluru, editing by Ed Osmond/Reuters