Warsaw | Swiatek opts for Fissette as her new coach

World No 1 Iga Swiatek has determined to work with new Belgian coach Wim Fissette, and their first occasion collectively might be on the WTA Finals in Riyadh, the place the 23-year outdated Pole is the defending champion.

I need to say that I am very excited and searching ahead to working with Wim [Fissette]. He appears to have an important angle, imaginative and prescient and big expertise at a really high stage of tennis. It is at all times essential to try to get to know one another higher however we’re off to an excellent begin and I am unable to wait to compete quickly. Iga Świątek

Swiatek’s announcement got here quickly after her cut up with earlier coach Tomasz Wiktorowski, marking the start of a brand new period for the 5-time Grand Slam champion, who’s working with a non-Polish coach for the primary time in her profession.

Posting on social media on Thursday, Swiatek revealed that she and Fissette have concluded talks and determined to work collectively, giving particular emphasis to his expertise on the high stage as one of many causes she thought he was an excellent match for her crew.

“I’m completely satisfied to announce that Wim Fissette is becoming a member of our crew,” Swiatek posted on social media. “As you realize, I’m making ready for the WTA Finals however my perspective is, as at all times, long-term, not short-term. I mentioned many instances that my profession is a marathon for me, not a dash and I’m working, working and making choices with this strategy.

“I need to say that I’m very excited and searching ahead to working with Wim,” she added. “He appears to have an important angle, imaginative and prescient and big expertise at a really high stage of tennis. It’s at all times essential to try to get to know one another higher however we’re off to an excellent begin and I can’t wait to compete quickly.”

The information comes 2 weeks after the tip of her 3-year partnership with Wiktorowski, with whom she had labored because the finish of 2021, a interval throughout which Swiatek gained 4 of her 5 Grand Slam titles, and ascended to World No.1 for the primary time.

Previous to Wiktorowski, Swiatek had been coached by Piotr Sierzputowski since 2016.

© Charly Triballeau/AFP through Getty Pictures

Fissette is among the many greatest names within the WTA teaching world, and has beforehand labored with Kim Clijsters, Simona Halep, Victoria Azarenka, Angelique Kerber and Naomi Osaka, all former World No 1s.

The 44-year-old Belgian coached Osaka in matches towards Swiatek twice, within the 2022 Miami closing, which the Japanese misplaced, 6-4 6-0, and the second at Roland Garros within the 2nd-round earlier this 12 months, which Osaka additionally misplaced, 7-6(1) 1-6 7-5, from match level up.

Osaka introduced the tip of their 4-year collaboration in September.

After Swiatek’s announcement, Fissette’s spouse, Jasmien Clijsner, took to Instagram to share the information, additionally expressing how proud she was to see her husband companion with the top-ranked ladies’s tennis participant on this planet.

“Wim teaching #1 Swiatek. Extraordinarily proud household in right here,” she added in a caption.

The 2024 WTA Finals start within the first week of November, and Swiatek will face a troublesome problem competing towards Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, Barbora Krejcikova, Elena Rybakina, Jasmine Paolini, Jessica Pegula and Zheng Qinwen on the season-ending championships, notably because the Pole has not competed since her quarter-final loss to Jessica Pegula on the US Open, and her World No 1 rating is once more beneath menace from Sabalenka over the approaching weeks.

Sabalenka and Krejcikova are reigning Grand Slam champions, with the previous successful the Australian Open and the US Open, and the latter successful Wimbledon.

The opposite Main of the 12 months, the French Open, was gained by Swiatek, whereas Zheng took house the Olympic Gold medal in Paris.

The partnership with Tomasz Wiktorowski introduced Iga Swiatek a lot success however the World No 1 is in search of change, and the parting of how was a mutual resolution

© Matthew Stockman/Getty Pictures

In the meantime Wiktorowski has insisted that his cut up with Swiatekr was achieved ‘respectfully’ after stories that he instigated the transfer to finish their partnership.

The 43-year-old joined her crew on the finish of 2021, and so they loved vital success collectively, as Swiatek grew to become the World No 1 for the primary time in April 2022, and went on an unimaginable 37-match successful streak, lifting the French Open for a second time, and claiming a maiden US Open title in 2022.

The Pole gained two extra French Open crowns with Wiktorowski by her aspect, whereas she additionally grew to become simply the seventh participant to report a number of 50-week stints at No 1, regardless of nonetheless being simply 23.

A report from Portal i.pl, although, claimed Wiktorowski had instigated the transfer and that Swiatek’s psychologist, Daria Abramowicz, was one of many causes he determined to cease working with the 4-time French Open champion.

Wiktorowski, who additionally labored with Agnieszka Radwanska from 2011 to 2018, informed Przeglad Sportowy that the rumours have been pretend information, and that Swiatek’s announcement defined the scenario.

“There have been a whole lot of speculations and insinuations… Undoubtedly an excessive amount of, contemplating that the message that was issued very exactly defines our resolution,” he mentioned. “It is sufficient to learn it with understanding, not with the intention of in search of sensation. Our finish of cooperation was achieved with respect for each events and no pretend information will change that.

“I feel that, usually, we had an excellent relationship within the crew,” Wiktorowski added. “Throughout three years of intensive cooperation, it’s unimaginable to keep away from troublesome conditions, however even then, we at all times discovered a approach to attain an settlement and get again on observe.

“Iga, and every little thing associated to the preparation of a participant on the highest stage, have at all times been a precedence for us. It was merely a necessity. We’ve got by no means made sudden and, above all, ill-considered choices.”