Francisco Roig stepped in to replace Wim Fissette as Iga Swiatek’s coach ahead of the clay-court season, marking a fresh start for both.
Her first event with Roig will be at Stuttgart, where she enters the draw as the third seed.
Early on, results take a back seat to building a solid player-coach relationship, and this initial phase is more about learning how to work together effectively.
But what’s it really like getting along with Swiatek, and how does she come across away from the cameras?
Swiatek’s former manager Paulina Wojtowicz says she is a ‘demanding boss’ but is ‘very humble’
Speaking to Sport.Pl, Swiatek’s former manager Paulina Wojtowicz shared her thoughts on what it was like working with the six-time Grand Slam champion.
“I think Iga [Swiatek] gave me more than I gave her,” Wojtowicz admitted.
“But when no one else was around, and those big agencies refused to work with her, I was there for those problems and difficult moments.
“Working with Iga is a project I’ll be proud of for the rest of my life.”
Wojtowicz continued by highlighting how down-to-earth Swiatek has always been.
“She was always very humble. She didn’t fully realise how big a brand she was,” said Wojtowicz.
The 23-year-old is currently world number three in the WTA rankings and holds a 14-4 record so far this season. This week, she will begin play at the Stuttgart Open in what will be her first tournament under new coach Francisco Roig.
The pair have started working together following Swiatek’s split from Fissette after just six months together. But even before that move, fans had already been divided over psychologist Daria Abramowicz’s role on the team.
Why Swiatek’s name isn’t at the top of the list
While Swiatek is a four-time French Open champion, she may not be viewed as the top contender when she arrives in Paris this year.
This reflects both her recent struggles on clay and the rise of her competitors. Last year, Aryna Sabalenka defeated Swiatek in the semi-finals and came close to winning her first French Open title.
Coco Gauff went on to win that final, making her fourth Grand Slam trophy even more impressive. Others like Elena Rybakina, Mirra Andreeva, and Jessica Pegula have also shown they can’t be ignored.
But if Swiatek can build some momentum with Roig by her side, there’s every chance she could add a fifth French Open title to her collection this June.
Before then, she’ll open her clay season at the Stuttgart Open in Germany. Her first match is set for Wednesday 15 April against Laura Siegemund.
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