“He seems to have a great attitude, vision and huge experience at a very top level of tennis,” Iga Swiatek said while welcoming Wim Fissette in her team. The WTA star had to go through a fair share of ups and downs in the ongoing season. Soon after attaining massive feats including her fourth Roland Garros title, she got tested positive for a banned substance and therefore had to serve a suspension period. As things seem to be settling now, she opened up on the tremendous support from her coach.

Iga Swiatek recently expressed her excitement about working with her new coach, Wim Fissette. The renowned mentor has previously guided tennis stars like Naomi Osaka, Victoria Azarenka, and Simona Halep. Speaking on the TVN24 program, Swiatek described Fissette as “positive, understanding, empathetic” along with emphasizing the importance of their communication. “He encourages me to discuss, which is not very common among my coaches. I am a person who likes to have my own opinion. Sometimes, maybe I am too stubborn,” she shared.

Swiatek is currently hoping to refine her skills and gain a fresh perspective, especially on surfaces where she has struggled before, like grass courts. She and Fissette plan to approach the grass season with a renewed mindset and therefore aiming to turn her weaknesses into strengths.

The 2025 season holds a great value for Swiatek as she works toward regaining her position as the WTA’s top-ranked player. She has set her sights on a strong comeback after a challenging year that saw her temporarily sidelined due to a doping-related controversy. She tested positive for trimetazidine following the Cincinnati Open. She was informed of the result in September and had to miss three tournaments in Asia while under provisional suspension.

The WTA star presented her case to the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) in October. On November 28, the ITIA concluded that she bore “no significant fault or negligence” and handed her a one-month suspension. Since she had already served most of this period in October, Świątek was cleared to compete in the WTA Finals.

Amid this controversy, her coach also stepped forward as a firm believer of her innocence.

Wim Fissette explains decision to join Iga Swiatek amid doping controversy

Wim Fissette has spoken publicly about his decision to coach Iga Swiatek despite her recent doping test controversy. The Belgian coach revealed that he was aware of the situation before they finalized their partnership. He stated that trust played a crucial role in his decision to join Swiatek’s team. “Trust is a foundation of good relationships in our team from the very beginning,” Fissette told The National. He shared that Swiatek had been upfront about the case and left the choice of their collaboration entirely up to him.

Fissette also highlighted that Swiatek’s values and work ethic reassured him of her innocence. He explained that he had been observing the five-time Grand Slam champion for a long time. Her dedication to the sport and high personal standards convinced him to move forward with their partnership. “I have been observing her for a long time, her values, her work ethic, her standards. I was confident that she is innocent from the start,” Fissette said.

The coach’s support turned out to be a crucial factor in the Pole’s efforts to focus on her goals for the upcoming season. As the controversy is now resolved, Fissette is determined to help Swiatek regain her top form and prepare for new challenges in 2025. Do you think it’ll happen?