Following her separation from Wim Fissette less than a year after securing her maiden Wimbledon title, Iga Swiatek is reportedly embarking on a trial collaboration with Francisco Roig, specifically timed for the upcoming clay court season.
Swiatek, a former World No. 1, experienced a challenging 2025 season and has had a suboptimal beginning to 2026. She was recently observed training at the Rafa Nadal Academy, preparing for the clay swing. It now appears she is integrating a familiar figure from that very environment, Roig, into her coaching setup.
Francisco Roig’s Coaching Career Post-Nadal
Although Roig is enduringly linked with Rafael Nadal, having served as the Spaniard’s assistant coach for 17 years during a period that saw Nadal claim 22 Grand Slam titles, his subsequent coaching engagements have generally been brief.
His initial venture after departing Nadal’s team was with Matteo Berrettini, a partnership that spanned approximately ten months. Subsequently, he collaborated with Emma Raducanu; this association began promisingly with some impressive displays but concluded unexpectedly in early 2026, reportedly due to differing technical philosophies.
Roig’s most recent role involved coaching the emerging French talent and big server, Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard. However, he has now concluded that partnership, presumably to make himself available for Iga Swiatek.
Focus on Clay: A Trial Period Commences
Official confirmation from Swiatek’s team is still pending, yet reports indicate this collaboration will commence as a trial, most probably throughout the clay season. This surface is particularly relevant as both Roig, in his coaching capacity, and Swiatek, as a player, have historically excelled on it.
Significantly, Swiatek did not secure a single title on her preferred clay surface last year. She is undoubtedly motivated to alter this trend, aiming to reassert her dominance on the tour, echoing her formidable performance from 2022 to 2024.
Currently ranked World No. 4, the Polish star is slated to inaugurate her clay season at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart in two weeks. This event could potentially signal the commencement of a fresh chapter in her career, with Roig, at least for the time being, joining her team.
