Iga Swiatek’s new partnership with Rafael Nadal raises concerns across WTA Tour
Photo by Foto Olimpik/NurPhoto via Getty Images Iga Swiatek has been training with Francisco Roig and Rafael Nadal in Manacor as she gets ready for the clay-court season. After parting ways with Wim Fissette, Swiatek brought in Roig as her new coach. Their work together started at the Rafael Nadal Academy, where Swiatek was seen training alongside both Roig and his former student, Nadal.
There’s no word yet on whether Nadal will stick around through the entire clay swing, but the arrangement has already caught the attention of a few players on tour… Jessica Pegula jokes that Iga Swiatek’s work with Rafael Nadal ‘should be illegal’ Photo by Robert Prange/Getty Images Speaking on a recent episode of the ‘The Player’s Box Podcast,’ former Australian Open champion Madison Keys shared her perspective on Swiatek’s coaching change. “I mean, Iga [Swiatek] won Wimbledon last year,” said Keys. “I guess it’s a little hard for Iga because the bar is now number one.
That’s a tough bar to live up to every single year. ” Keys also spoke about the growing expectations on Swiatek since reaching the top of the rankings. Pegula added that seeing Swiatek train with Nadal and Roig left her feeling uneasy about what could be coming for their rivals.
Nadal holds numerous records on clay and is widely regarded as the best to ever play on that surface. Meanwhile, Swiatek has spoken openly about how much she admired Nadal while growing up and has already established her own impressive record in clay events. If Nadal remains involved in any capacity, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Swiatek regain the kind of form that once made her such a dominant force on clay before 2025.
And even if his role is limited, having Roig—who was part of Nadal’s team during his run to 22 Grand Slam titles—could still make a significant impact. There are plenty of reasons for optimism if you’re backing Swiatek this season. Now, attention turns to when she’ll kick off her clay-court campaign.