Iga Swiatek made a shocking revelation announcing that her successful partnership with longtime coach Tomasz Wiktorowski ran its course. Although not unexpected, with opinions stressing the need for a fresh face and a fresh set of ideas for World No. 1, the update has now started to get validation from the tennis community as the World No. 1 is being backed for her decision.

Wiktorowski joined Swiatek’s team at the tail end of 2021. The pair staged a feisty and ‘triumph-loaded’ run, wherein the Pole pocketed four Grand Slam titles – coupled with 15 tour-level crowns. In her statement announcing her withdrawal with the coach, Swiatek said, “After 3 years of the greatest achievements in my career, together with my coach Tomasz Wiktorowski we decided to part ways. I want to start with a big thank you and appreciating our work together. Due to this important change on my team. 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.” Her decision, in turn, got a thumbs-up reaction from the former Austrian pro-Barbara Schett.

Taking to ‘Eurosport,’ Schett noted that the WTA star aims to mark her territory “outside of clay,” subsequently implying an ‘outside opinion’ as a pair of fresh eyes. “She still wants to develop her game outside of clay. She is looking for something different, an outside look because at this level, every % counts. She needs a different pair of eyes and different stimulations. Can develop her game even more.”

For those unaware, acclaimed journalist Ben Rottenberg earlier snubbed the idea of an immediate change in the Polish star’s coaching team. Rottenberg said he didn’t want to jump to conclusions due to Swiatek’s worrisome hardcourt run this season. “I don’t see the need for a change before this year’s finish of the struggle. Her coach? Without a doubt, he is currently the best Polish coach. So I don’t see the need to change.”

Let’s keep it real, Swiatek decorated her trophy cabinet quite spectacularly under the Polish coach’s tutelage. Not only did he aid the young talent to glory, Wiktorowski also helped the Pole realize her long-awaited ambition.

When Iga Swiatek highlighted joint mission with Tomasz Wiktorowski after becoming World No. 1

Iga Swiatek’s highly successful partnership with Tomasz Wiktorowski paid its dividends from the get-go. Merely weeks in, the duo flipped the WTA on its head and stunned fans with an impressive 2022 season – which included Swiatek’s maiden SFs attendance at the Australian Open. In April of that year, the Pole became the WTA No. 1 after bagging the Sunshine Double (Indian Wells and Miami). Subsequently, Swiatek laid bare the Polish coach’s efforts to upskill her. She also revealed that Wiktorowski helped manifest her dream to become World No. 1.

Swiatek said, “His experience, analytical and strategic attitude, and enormous knowledge about tennis helped us to achieve things I’ve never dreamed of only a few months after we started working together. Our main goal was to become the No. 1 player in the world and coach Wiktorowski was the one who said it first.”

Vying to improve her form on hard courts, Swiatek will look for suitable coaches around and she has already made it clear that she is looking for a foreign coach. The 23-year-old withdrew from the China Open and is slated to recover before debuting her new coaching partnership at the WTA Finals in Abu Dhabi.