Iga Swiatek’s dip in form has turned from concern into crisis, with Miami feeling like a breaking point rather than a blip. Despite a glittering 2025 crowned by Wimbledon, her 2026 campaign has unraveled: Doha disappointment, a flat Miami exit, and a slip to World No. 4 amid surging rivals. Now, as clay season looms, the Pole finally breaks her silence, hinting at bold changes and a new voice in her corner.

Iga Swiatek reveals reasons behind split with Wim Fissette

In a conversation with Sport.pl, interviewer Radosław Leniarski asked whether the decision came after her loss in Miami. Swiatek responded firmly, saying, “This is a matter between us. I don’t want to go into details. It’s certainly not something that someone like me decides to do after one failure. I wouldn’t make such a decision hastily.”

She made it clear that the split was not a reaction to one bad result. Swiatek described herself as a “rational” person when it comes to such decisions.

She explained that she prefers to give her team time to adjust and improve, rather than making sudden changes. “I like to give the team the opportunity to ‘reset’ and start working a little differently,” she said.

Reflecting on the timeline, she added, “I felt that it was simply time for a change. Yes, it wasn’t a decision made in Miami – it was a longer process in which I thought everything through carefully.”

She also spoke about her struggles during the season, particularly starting in Doha.

“During the tournament in Doha, I realized that I didn’t feel as good on the court as before. Of course, at different tournaments, there can be different reasons for a worse disposition – sometimes I just know that I wasn’t focused that day, sometimes my forehand let me down, sometimes something else. It happens. But I had the impression that I wasn’t playing so well, so I started to lose confidence,” she added.

Swiatek also mentioned her loss to Maria Sakkari at the Qatar Open and what followed afterward. After that defeat, her team held a long discussion to evaluate what needed to change.

They talked about adjustments and how to approach the following week to regain her solid level. However, things did not improve as expected, and she later admitted, “I needed a change.”

The timing of the split raised questions because it came right after her Miami Open exit. Swiatek lost in the second round to fellow Polish player Magda Linette, which became her final match with Fissette.

Their partnership began in October 2024 and has delivered strong results over time. Under Fissette, she won three titles, including the 2025 Wimbledon women’s singles trophy.

Despite that success, her recent dip in form and the Miami loss intensified the situation. Soon after, both Swiatek and Fissette confirmed their split through social media posts.

Did Rafael Nadal influence Iga Swiatek’s next coaching decision?

Iga Swiatek endured a difficult clay-court season last year, dropping a significant number of WTA ranking points. Despite that struggle, she bounced back with an unexpected and impressive run at Wimbledon.

Her recent form, however, has raised fresh concerns. Two weeks ago, she suffered an opening-round loss at the Miami Open, her earliest exit there since 2021.

With a short gap between the Sunshine Swing and the clay season, attention shifted to her next steps. During this period, Leniarski later asked whether she had sought advice from Rafael Nadal.

Swiatek spoke openly about her admiration for Nadal. “You know – Rafa is my idol and actually the only person I watched him play tennis as a child,” Swiatek explained.

Even after her split with Wim Fissette, new developments emerged. Reports from Polish outlet Przeglad Sportowy Onet suggested that she may begin training at the Rafa Nadal Academy.

She also highlighted the guidance Nadal has provided over time. “He was also nice enough to talk to me several times during his career and give me tips. This is the person I can turn to if I need help or have a problem to solve.”

Swiatek further emphasized the value of such support while maintaining privacy. “Help from someone so experienced – actually the best, GOAT – is obviously a great opportunity, and I will take advantage of it if I can. The reef is very open. He is a great man. The very fact that I have his number and can contact him is a great honor for me.” 

Later adding, “But to be honest, whether he helped me or not, I would like to keep it between us, because he is part of the story. I wouldn’t want to put him in an awkward position.”

Iga Swiatek refuses to blame her psychologist for recent struggles

Iga Swiatek has struggled to go deep in tournaments this season. She failed to move past the quarterfinals at the Australian Open, Qatar Open, and the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. Her form has not looked strong against top opponents. The consistency that once defined her game has been missing.

At the same time, Elena Rybakina has emerged as a strong contender at the top. Along with Aryna Sabalenka, she has intensified the competition, pushing Swiatek slightly out of the spotlight.

And after the Miami Open, when Swiatek chose to part ways with her coach, Wim Fissette, this triggered mixed reactions across the tennis world. Some believe it is only a temporary dip in form, while others have been more critical.

Her childhood coach, Artur Szostaczko, openly criticized the role of psychologist Daria Abramowicz. He argued that her involvement in Swiatek’s team has been excessive and should be more “moderate.”

Former World No. 1 Kim Clijsters also shared her perspective. She suggested that Abramowicz’s strong presence might have influenced Fissette’s departure by making the team dynamic difficult.

However, Swiatek strongly rejected these claims. She made it clear that such opinions are not accurate.

“I decide who I work with. And honestly, most of the negative things I saw somewhere, I try not to read into it, but something’s getting through to me, were just fake news and theories made up to cause confusion,” she said.

Swiatek emphasized that all decisions about her team come from her. She explained that she takes opinions from trusted people like her personal trainer, Maciej Ryszczuk, and Abramowicz, but only when necessary.

“People have no idea what it’s like, I’m the one making the decisions about collaboration. Of course, I can ask my team members for their opinion, and I do if I need to, because I have very experienced people around me: from the management team to the people I spend weeks on tour with, like Maciek [Ryszczuk], my physical conditioning coach, and Daria as my mental conditioning coach,” she added.

She also pointed out how opinions around Abramowicz have changed over time. Earlier praised for success, the psychologist is now being unfairly blamed.

“I try to base my decisions on my own judgment, because only then can I truly believe in them and be convinced that it’s the right choice. Although a coach should be the leader of the team, I try to be that leader and lead my team,” she concluded.

And as the clay-court season approaches, a bold new coaching appointment is set to be announced in the coming days.

Francisco Roig leaves Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard to coach Iga Swiatek

Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard has ended his short coaching stint with Francisco Roig. The Spaniard is now set to join Iga Swiatek’s team. Their partnership lasted less than a month. It began during the Sunshine Double but ended quickly after just two tournaments.

Mpetshi Perricard, currently ranked World No. 57, will now return to working with Philippe Dehaes. This marks a shift back to a familiar setup for the French player.

Roig had only recently started working with him. Their collaboration began at Indian Wells in early March. Before this, Roig had a long and successful association with Rafael Nadal. He was a key part of Nadal’s coaching team for many years.

After leaving Nadal’s setup, Roig moved across both tours. He joined Emma Raducanu in mid-2025, but that partnership lasted around six months and ended in January.

He then transitioned to the ATP Tour again. His stint with Mpetshi Perricard lasted less than four weeks, showing how quickly coaching roles can change at the top level.

For Swiatek, bringing in Roig is a targeted move. It is not a complete overhaul but a focused adjustment to improve her consistency ahead of the clay season.

She has made it clear what she wants to improve in her game. “That was my advantage – I put pressure on the court, and it gave me an advantage. I feel that tennis gives me the most pleasure when I’m solid. When this is not the case, I take unnecessary risks and make many more mistakes. I want to get back to solidity.”

Her goal is to return to her strong, error-free style. She wants to feel like a wall on the court again and force opponents into mistakes. The timing is important, with the clay season approaching fast. Key tournaments include Stuttgart, Madrid, Rome, and Roland Garros.

Swiatek is expected to return at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart. The WTA 500 event will take place from April 13 to 19.

The big question now is whether she can regain her form. With Roig’s experience and her clear intent, the clay season could define her year.