Iga Świątek explains how coach Francisco Roig tore his Achilles — on a court in a Rome piazza
ROME — Iga Świątek’s coach, Francisco Roig, tore his right Achilles tendon when stretching for a volley as they played a practice match — with €100 ($118) at stake on a special clay court set up in one of the city’s piazzas. “Yeah, I broke my coach’s Achilles,” Świątek told a few reporters in a mixed zone Friday after a three-set win over American world No. 63 Caty McNally at the Italian Open.
Roig, a longtime coach of Rafael Nadal, watched the 6-1, 6-7(5), 6-3 win with his right leg heavily ban
ROME — Iga Świątek’s coach, Francisco Roig , tore his right Achilles tendon when stretching for a volley as they played a practice match — with €100 ($118) at stake on a special clay court set up in one of the city’s piazzas. “Yeah, I broke my coach’s Achilles,” Świątek told a few reporters in a mixed zone Friday after a three-set win over American world No. 63 Caty McNally at the Italian Open.
Roig, a longtime coach of Rafael Nadal, watched the 6-1, 6-7(5), 6-3 win with his right leg heavily bandaged, after getting to his seat on crutches. “We were having a practice on Piazza del Popolo,” Świątek said, referring to the large square in Rome where the Italian Open erects a clay court for promotional activities, with fans in attendance. “We were like, ‘OK, I’m going to play this fun game we were playing before.
’ I wanted to show it to him. He’s really good on the volley. So we made a bet for €100 ($118).