Iga Swiatek shakes things up with a new coach—Wim Fissette—ready for her next big breakthrough! After parting ways with Tomasz Wiktorowski, Swiatek brought in Fissette, a known name for molding champions like Naomi Osaka and Kim Clijsters. While fans and analysts are optimistic about this dynamic partnership, not everyone is content to simply ride the wave of excitement. Andy Roddick, known for his candid takes, has raised “big macro questions” that lie ahead for Fissette.
Andy Roddick discussed Wim Fissette’s new position as Iga Swiatek’s coach in the October 22 episode of the Served podcast. Highlighting the challenging learning curve that lies ahead, he stated, “Yeah. It’s a good point on the new coach coming into it’s I think it’s Maybe I don’t know about tougher because the player you’re dealing with is currently number one and has been the best player in tennis for the last four years, at scale. But going into a various established team that has had a lot of success, right? “
Not only that, Roddick stressed that it’s not easy to join a player in the middle of the season, particularly one as careful and skilled as Swiatek. He added, “…The top of the mountain wedging yourself in there. Do you want to make a bunch of changes? Are you trying things out for the rest of the year? Are you? These are all these big macro questions is the fit? Have they already signed a deal for two years? Is this a thing they’re going to try through the rest? There’s a lot of this stuff that we don’t totally know yet.”
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Although Wim Fissette is no stranger to taking on demanding coaching roles—he has experienced such difficulties with Naomi Osaka—his new position with Iga Swiatek poses particular difficulties. Swiatek said she was confident in his talents when she hired him as her new coach a few weeks ago, saying: “He seems to have a great attitude, vision, and huge experience at a very top level of tennis.”
Subsequently, Swiatek’s belief in Fissette is justified by his track record with Osaka. Osaka had incredible success throughout their collaboration, which lasted from late 2019 to mid-2022. She won two Grand Slam championships, the 2020 US Open and the 2021 Australian Open. Additionally, the pair advanced far in the Miami Open in 2022 and the Cincinnati Open in 2020.
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But their second tenure in 2023 didn’t work out the same way, and they ended up splitting up, a reminder that even the most promising partnerships require continuous adjustment. The move to a new coaching partnership, in the meantime, coincides with circulating skepticism regarding Swiatek and Tomasz Wiktorowski’s abrupt breakup. While the World No. 1 has opted to keep quiet about the reasons behind their split, Wiktorowski has cleared all the air.
No bad blood between Iga Swiatek and Tomasz Wiktorowski
Given their fruitful collaboration, which resulted in a remarkable 54-7 record, five titles, and solidified Swiatek’s place as the world’s top tennis player, the tennis community was taken aback when Iga Swiatek announced her separation from Tomasz Wiktorowski. But precisely eleven days after the startling announcement, Wiktorowski ultimately spoke up and offered his thoughts on the sudden breakup.
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He said, “There has been a lot of speculation and insinuation… Definitely too much considering that the statement that was issued very precisely defines our decision. It is enough to read it with understanding, and not with the intention of looking for sensation. Our termination of cooperation took place with respect for both parties and no fakes will change that.”
In the end, Wiktorowski’s comments highlight the professionalism and respect that characterize his relationship with Swiatek, demonstrating that the breakup was more of a calculated move than a tense fallout. However, the tennis world is eager to see how Fissette handles this particular terrain on and off the court.