World number four Iga Swiatek is determined to shake off her recent slump, enlisting the expertise of veteran tennis coach Francisco Roig to help steer her 2026 campaign back on track.
The 24-year-old Polish superstar officially announced the collaboration via Instagram, enthusiastically stating, "Welcome to the team, Francisco! Very excited for this new chapter."
Swiatek is hoping the new partnership will provide much-needed stability ahead of her favorite stretch of the calendar. Despite securing a maiden Wimbledon title last July under the guidance of her previous coach, Wim Fissette, her form has wavered this year. Quarter-final dismissals at both the Australian Open and Indian Wells were followed by a stunning first-round exit at the Miami Open in March, ultimately prompting the split with Fissette.
Her tenure with Fissette was heavily polarized, featuring incredible highs but also crushing lows—most notably suffering a rare 6-0 'bagel' set against Aryna Sabalenka during last year's French Open quarter-finals.
Enter Francisco Roig. The 58-year-old Spaniard brings a wealth of elite experience, most famously from his legendary 17-year tenure coaching 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal. More recently, Roig spent five months guiding British star Emma Raducanu through the end of 2025 and into early 2026.
Known for an intuitive and hands-on coaching style, Roig reportedly eschews deep forensic video analysis in favor of keen courtside observation. According to his former pupil Feliciano Lopez, the seasoned coach relies on highly specific and practical drills tailored to each player's unique mechanics to achieve results. His impressive resume also includes working with Italian standout Matteo Berrettini.
With the European clay-court swing looming, the timing of the appointment is critical. Swiatek has historically thrived on the dirt, claiming four of her six major titles at Roland Garros. The newly formed duo has already hit the ground running, setting up their training camp at Nadal’s academy in Manacor, Spain, as Swiatek prepares to reassert her dominance on the Parisian clay next month.