 "Wim Fissette will look to help Iga Swiatek retain her World No.1 ranking. Images: Reuters")
World No. 1 Iga Swiatek has decided to work with coach Wim Fissette after parting ways with Tomasz Wiktorowski two weeks ago . In their three-year association, Swiatek won four out of her five Grand Slams but sought a change after her loss in the US Open 2024 quarter-finals against eventual runner-up Jessica Pegula. She also lost in the third round at Wimbledon in 2024, lost in the semi-finals at the Paris Olympics before winning bronze, and lost in the semi-finals of the Cincinnati Open.
Her last big win was the French Open 2024 title which was her third consecutive title in Paris and fourth in the past five years.
Swiatek is 54-7 this season with five titles and about $7.5 million in prize money but has not competed since the defeat at the US Open.
She now hopes to turn around her fortunes under Fissette.
“I’m excited and motivated to start a new chapter,” Swiatek wrote on X. “As you know, I’m preparing for the WTA Finals but my perspective is, as always, long-term, not short-term. I said many times that my career is a marathon for me, not a sprint, and I’m working, operating and making decisions with this approach.”
“I want to say that I’m very excited and looking forward to working with Wim. He seems to have a great attitude, vision and huge experience at a very top level of tennis. It’s always crucial to try and get to know each other better but we’re off to a good start and I can’t wait to compete soon.”
Who is Wim Fissette?
Switake had already announced that she was looking to work with a foreign coach after ending her association with fellow Polish Wiktorowski. Fissette is a Belgian coach who has been training top female players since 2009. He started with four-time Grand Slam winner Kim Clijsters in 2009 and has also worked with Simona Halep, Victoria Azarenka, Angelique Kerber, and Petra Kvitova.
Fissette was recently associated with Naomi Osaka and helped her win two of her four Grand Slam titles.
Overall he has won six Grand Slams as a coach.
The immediate target for Fissette and Swiatek will be to hold off Sabalenka for the year-end No. 1 ranking.