Iga Swiatek, the reigning four-time French Open champion, recently took a significant step in her professional career by starting a new chapter at Rafael Nadal’s academy in Mallorca. This week, Swiatek began training under the guidance of Francisco Roig, the experienced coach who played a pivotal role in Nadal’s success from 2005 until last year.
In a warm social media exchange, both legends of the sport shared their excitement about the collaboration. Nadal welcomed Swiatek by saying, “Welcome back to the Rafa Nadal Academy! Enjoy your time here! We hope you feel at home.” Swiatek reciprocated the sentiment with a heartfelt message, expressing her appreciation for the opportunity to train at the esteemed facility.
This change comes on the heels of a challenging start to Swiatek’s 2026 season, where she recorded a modest 12-6 win-loss ratio and failed to advance beyond the quarterfinals in several tournaments. Recently, she made the decision to part ways with her previous coach, Wim Fissette, citing the need for a fresh perspective. “I’ve decided to take a different path,” Swiatek elaborated about her shift, reflecting on the intense period filled with challenges and growth. “I’m grateful for his support, experience, and everything we achieved together… The rest of my team remains unchanged.”
After her training sessions in Mallorca, the 24-year-old athlete is poised to kick off her clay-court season at the WTA 500 event in Stuttgart, scheduled for April 13-19. With this new alliance at the academy, fans and analysts alike will be eager to see how Swiatek harnesses this change to elevate her performance on the circuit.
