Iga Swiatek’s New Partnership with Rafael Nadal and Francisco Roig Unveiled at the French Open
Iga Swiatek has joined forces with Rafael Nadal and Francisco Roig to prepare for her clay-court season. The King of Clay could prove invaluable as Swiatek aims to win her first title this year.
Rafael Nadal and his former coach Francisco Roig have joined forces to help Iga Swiatek prepare for her clay-court season. The Polish tennis star parted ways with Wim Fissette after a tough run on hard courts, but she’s now stepping up her preparations by training with the King of Clay himself. Swiatek brought in Nadal and Roig’s expertise as part of her offseason training, which could prove invaluable for her goal of winning her first title this year.
The King of Clay has 14 titles at Roland Garros and holds a level of dominance on clay that’s unmatched. Rick Macci, who previously worked with Serena Williams, shared his thoughts on the new partnership during a recent appearance on the Match Point Canada podcast. Macci believes Swiatek can learn from Nadal’s mindset, especially when it comes to navigating matches on clay.
The talent is there for Swiatek to win again at Roland Garros, but with a slow start to 2026 and issues away from the court, it won’t be straightforward this time around. Players like Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff have strong histories on clay as well, making her another serious threat heading into this year’s event. Read more: Who can now challenge Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner on clay?