In a move aimed at revitalising her career, six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek has announced the appointment of Francisco Roig as her new head coach.
The news comes just ten days after Swiatek’s high-profile split from Wim Fissette, following a disappointing second-round exit at the 2026 Miami Open that saw her world ranking slip to No. 4.
For Swiatek, hiring Roig is a personal and strategic choice. A lifelong admirer of Rafael Nadal, the 24-year-old Pole has frequently cited the Spanish legend as her primary inspiration. Roig was a fixture in Nadal’s inner circle for 17 years (2005–2022), serving as an alternate coach alongside Toni Nadal and Carlos Moya during all 22 of Nadal’s major titles.
Why the Change?
The decision follows a rocky start to the 2026 season for Swiatek. Despite winning Wimbledon 2025 under Fissette’s guidance, the partnership struggled to maintain consistency.
The breaking point arrived in Miami, where Swiatek suffered her first opening-round loss since 2021 to Magda Linette, ending a historic 73-match winning streak in tournament openers. Iga described the moment as her “worst nightmare” and it started to become clear that changes were coming.
Francisco Roig
Roig brings a wealth of experience, not just from the Nadal camp, but from recent stints on the ATP and WTA tours:
- Rafael Nadal (2005–2022): Instrumental in developing the most dominant clay-court game in history.
- Matteo Berrettini (2023–2024): Assisted the Italian in his return from injury.
- Emma Raducanu (2025–2026): A brief six-month tenure that ended after the 2026 Australian Open.
The Clay Season
The timing of the hire is critical. With the clay-court swing beginning, Swiatek is moving back to her most successful surface, one where Roig’s expertise is unparalleled. Having won four French Open titles already, Swiatek is looking to Roig to help her refine her technical game and regain the mental edge required to eventually challenge Aryna Sabalenka for the World No. 1 spot again.
While the head coach has changed, the rest of Swiatek’s “Team Iga” – including sports psychologist Daria Abramowicz and physio Maciej Ryszczuk – remains intact.