What is happening inside Iga Swiatek’s team? 42 days have passed since she last appeared in the US Open quarter-final match against Jessica Pegula. Since then, there has been only chaos and rumors. It all started with Iga announcing the split from her long-time coach Tomasz Wiktorowski on October 4, stunning everyone. Subsequently, she passed up on the entire Asian hardcourt swing, which further worried the fans. Her much-awaited United Cup appearance in 2025 seemed sketchy as well. However, quashing those widespread speculations, Swiatek’s manager has finally stepped up.

This year, Iga had finished as the runner-up in the United Cup after Poland lost to Germany as the latter staged a stunning comeback to win it 2-1. Personally, the Raszyn player had a largely successful year this season, winning 5 titles till now.

Iga won the Qatar Open, BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, Madrid Open, Italian Open, and French Open. Notably, with that run, she became only the second woman to win Madrid, Rome, and the French Open in the same season, after Serena Williams in 2013. Riding on these performances, she secured a spot at the WTA Finals despite her withdrawal from the Korea Open, China Open, and Wuhan Open. The tournament is set to take place in Riyadh from November 2 to 9 where Iga will defend the title she won last year in Cancun, Mexico.

The fans, meanwhile, were eager to know the status of Iga’s participation in the United Cup. There have been speculations hinting at her skipping the event amid her tense coaching situation. But taking to X, the Polish journalist for Sport.pl, Dominik Senkowski, posted that Iga’s manager Paula Wolecka, while talking to him, put all rumors to rest and confirmed that Swiatek had been added to the United Cup’s official roster. The tournament in Sydney will raise its curtains from December 27, 2024 to January 5, 2025.

Senkowski’s post read, “I asked Iga Świątek’s team if the tennis player would play in the United Cup. – Iga has been registered for the United Cup and therefore this tournament is included in her starting plans – Iga’s manager, Paula Wolecka, told me.” (translated from Polish).

However, as the revelation became public, many fans expressed their concern over her participation in the tournament, which will happen just before the Australian Open (January 12 to January 26, 2025). This year, Iga surprisingly crashed out in the third round of the tournament losing to 19-year-old Czech Linda Noskova. The fans’ worries are not absolutely baseless especially considering Iga’s performance on the hardcourt.

The Pole undoubtedly enjoyed a highly successful run with Wiktorowski. After joining hands with him in 2022, Iga won four Grand Slam titles (three consecutive French Opens and one US Open) under his guidance, along with a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics. But at the same time, Iga’s performance has been poor on grass and hard courts. She has a remarkable 87.08% winning record on clay, but her hard and grasscourt records stand at 79.05% and 70.59%, respectively. Many speculated this as a reason for her split with the coach.

Experts like Barbara Schett did not hold back from validating her decision and further iterated Swiatek’s plans to extend her agenda outside of clay courts with the help of a “different pair of eyes and different stimulations.” Meanwhile, there have been a handful of speculations that started flying regarding the split. Those did not stop despite Iga coming up with “A big thank you” for the coach in her announcement. Some even went up to the extent of predicting that Iga’s psychologist, Daria Abramowicz, may have played a role in it.

While Iga has remained silent on the rumors, renowned Polish commentator, Joanna Sakowicz-Kostecka batted to quash the claims. “I would be grateful for some evidence in this matter. Because it’s easy to throw passwords that don’t have coverage, leave understatements, rely on rumors, and not take responsibility for it yet, right? Because if it turns out that it was different, the responsibility will still be blurred. If I speak unequivocally, I need evidence. And I don’t have such,” she stated. After a long time, even Wiktorowski also spoke out.

Speaking to Polish publication Przegladsportowy, the coach clarified, “There have been many speculations and insinuations… Definitely too many considering that the statement issued clearly defines our decision. Just read it with comprehension and not with the intention of seeking sensationalism. Our collaboration ended with respect from both sides, and no fake news will change that.” If these were not enough, Iga’s longtime sparring partner Tomasz Moczek was also added to the mix right after the coaching decision.

An X post from Sofa Sportowa, fanned widespread speculation that Moczek has left the team. However, Senkowski claimed that Iga’s manager had denied the rumors. Amid all these, Poland’s former President has predicted a tough road for the 23-year-old.

Poland’s former President voices potential need in Iga Swiatek’s future outings

Working teammates, much like a coach and a student, build a relationship based on their tuning and compatibility with each other’s personality and work ethic. For Iga Swiatek, coach Tomasz Wiktorowski did that. However, with him gone and no new coach in sight, the Polish star might face trouble adjusting to a new coach, or vice versa. That’s exactly what has concerned Poland’s former President Aleksander Kwasniewski.

Speaking on the podcast ‘Polsat Sport Talk,’ the politician noted that Swiatek might counter tough hurdles when hunting for a suitable “foreign coach” for her training camp. “The question is who will be her coach and how well he will cope. Unlike the first coach, he will find a more formed Iga, who knows her stuff, has an ego and a strong personality,” Kwasniewski said.

With a no-show at recent events, Swiatek’s WTA rankings also took a heavy toll. The Pole has now fallen behind Aryna Sabalenka in the WTA Live Race. The first step toward ending this entire debacle might be getting a new coach for her. Who might be there? A few names are in the air.

Iga has announced, “I‘m in the middle of first talks with coaches from abroad (non-Polish) because I’m ready to take the next step in my career. I will let you know when I make a decision,” According to the Polish publication Sport.pl, Wim Fissette is leading the race to become the new coach. The 44-year-old Belgian coach recently split from Naomi Osaka. So, surely he’s going to be a real contender.

Fissette worked with Osaka from 2019 to the summer of 2022 and again in 2023 till September this year, when Osaka resumed her tennis career following the birth of her daughter, Shai. She has clinched two of her four Grand Slam titles with him. Fissette has also been a coach to Kim Clijsters, Simona Halep, Victoria Azarenka, Petra Kvitova, and Angelique Kerber. With Clijsters, Fissette won the US Open twice and the Australian Open once while with Kerber Wimbledon. Meanwhile, Joanna Sakowicz-Kostecka also hinted a few more names. Who are those?

Kostecka named Fissette and Brad Gilbert among the frontrunners. She also named a former Top 20 player, Anabel Median along with a few others like Andrea Petkovic and David Kotyza who are some of the names that have popped up to take up this big role. However, she feels Iga “doesn’t need a celebrity coach.” With the WTA Finals campaign in sight, we only hope that all the uncertainty ends and the Pole concludes the season on a cheerful note.