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Iga Swiatek Teams Up with Wim Fissette: A New Chapter
Iga Swiatek, currently ranked as the world’s top tennis player, has appointed Wim Fissette as her new head coach. At 44 years old, Fissette is well-known in the WTA Tour for his extensive experience and prestigious coaching career. He has previously guided three former world No. 1 players—Naomi Osaka, Kim Clijsters, and Angelique Kerber—to a collective total of six Grand Slam championships. In addition to these notable athletes, he has also had success with Simona Halep and Victoria Azarenka, both of whom reached Grand Slam finals under his guidance.
Swiatek’s decision to part ways with her long-standing coach Tomasz Wiktorowski just two weeks ago set off speculation regarding her next steps. Reliable sources previously hinted at Fissette potentially stepping into this role after learning about their conversations about foreign coaching options during Swiatek’s announcement.
Fissette's availability came after he ended his collaboration with Osaka, who recently transitioned to Patrick Mouratoglou—the former coach of Serena Williams—as her new mentor.
This pivotal hiring symbolizes an important alliance between the sport's leading female player and one of its most esteemed coaches. It reflects Swiatek's desire for change following a less-than-stellar second half of the season marked by inconsistent performances since she claimed her fourth French Open title—and fifth Grand Slam overall—at Roland Garros in June.
Confirmation from Swiatek’s camp on Thursday indicated that she and Fissette are already collaborating alongside her fitness team—which includes physiotherapist Maciej Ryszczuk, psychologist Daria Abramowicz, and hitting partner Tomasz Moczek—in preparation for the upcoming WTA Finals.
In a statement shared on social media and with The Athletic on October 17th, Swiatek emphasized that while she is gearing up for immediate competition at the WTA Finals, she remains focused on long-term goals: “My career is more like a marathon rather than a sprint; I approach my decisions accordingly.” She expressed optimism about their working relationship and enthusiasm for upcoming competitions.
Fissette expressed eagerness to join forces with Swiatek after observing her growth as an athlete over time—from attending matches where he coached players facing off against her to now becoming part of her team. Recalling their previous encounters on court—including a memorable match between him coaching Osaka against Swiatek last year where they nearly faced elimination—he stated: “Her dedication serves as an inspiration to many; I am thrilled to collaborate as we aim high together—let's go Iga!”
Swiatek has openly addressed challenges related to physical fatigue and mental strain while taking time away from competition since participating in the U.S. Open due partially to "personal matters." Notably too is how Aryna Sabalenka has reduced Swiatek's lead in ranking points down to a mere 69 points; thus optimal performance from both will be critical at the upcoming WTA Finals held in Saudi Arabia starting early November if she hopes to retain her top position globally.
Understanding Her Journey
The highly anticipated WTA Finals will showcase seven top-ranked players from 2024, along with Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova—it kicks off in Riyadh on Saturday November 2nd.
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