Iga Swiatek has announced the appointment of Wim Fissette as her new coach, revealing the news on social media this Thursday. Fissette has an impressive track record, having previously worked with numerous elite players, including Naomi Osaka, Kim Clijsters, and Victoria Azarenka.
Swiatek, who is currently ranked No. 1 in the world, expressed her enthusiasm about starting a new phase in her career, especially after parting ways with Tomasz Wiktorowski two weeks ago, following a successful three-year collaboration.
Since her last match on September 4, where she exited the U.S. Open in the quarterfinals to Jessica Pegula, Swiatek has taken a hiatus from competition, withdrawing from both the China Open and the Korea Open.
Her next challenge will be the upcoming WTA Finals, scheduled for November in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In her post, Swiatek emphasized her long-term perspective, stating, “While I’m preparing for the WTA Finals, my focus is on the bigger picture. My career is a marathon, not a sprint; I make decisions based on this mindset.” She expressed her eagerness to work with Fissette, highlighting his positive attitude, vision, and extensive experience in top-tier tennis.
Overall, Swiatek has had a stellar season so far, with a record of 54 wins against 7 losses, clinching five titles and earning around $7.5 million in prize money. Notably, she triumphed at the French Open in June for the third consecutive time and secured her fourth title in Paris over the last five years, bringing her Grand Slam total to five. Importantly, four of these victories occurred during her tenure with Wiktorowski. Bragging rights also include a bronze medal from the Paris Olympics in August.
As she enters into this new coaching partnership, Swiatek will aim to maintain her position as the year-end No. 1, facing competition from Aryna Sabalenka. Fissette, hailing from Belgium, marks a significant change for Swiatek as her first coach who is not from Poland. Fissette most recently worked with Osaka, guiding her to two of her four Grand Slam victories. Moreover, he has also coached Clijsters and Angelique Kerber during their championship runs, along with other notable players like Azarenka and Simona Halep, who have achieved the No. 1 ranking under his mentorship.