Iga Swiatek reveals what it was really like to train with Rafael Nadal

Iga Swiatek opens up about training with Rafael Nadal ahead of Stuttgart return.

Swiatek arrived in Stuttgart this week with a new coach, a fresh perspective and a story to tell about the preparation that preceded her clay season comeback.

Speaking at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix media day, the four-time Roland Garros champion described her time at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca as a turning point after a difficult run of results on hard courts.

"I wanted to change something in my preparation before the clay season, because obviously last clay season didn't really go as I planned," Swiatek told reporters.

"I wanted to go to Mallorca because I knew the facilities there, I knew the court. I knew I was going to do solid work there without any other distractions."

The visit to Mallorca was significant for more than just the training conditions. Rafael Nadal himself joined Swiatek and her new coach Francisco Roig on court for several days, something Swiatek described with clear enthusiasm.

"I asked if it would be possible for him to come and maybe be some kind of inspiration, also hear some feedback from him. It was really a privilege to have him on the court," she said.

"I honestly didn't have many expectations because I know he's super busy and he has a lot of stuff to do. It's a real privilege. I was really honoured he was able to be there these couple of days."

The time in Mallorca also served as Swiatek's first proper opportunity to get to know Roig, who has been officially confirmed as her new head coach following her split with Wim Fissette after the Miami Open.

Swiatek made clear that while Nadal's presence was a valued bonus, it is Roig who will be in charge going forward.

"Since then, I realised that I'm going to have this new coach situation. I also wanted to meet Francisco. I'm happy that they were there at the same time because it adds even more value to the process," she said.

"But now I will continue with Francisco. He will be the person that takes care of the whole process. That's the plan for now, and no other plans right now."

Roig spent 17 years working alongside Nadal from 2005 to 2022 and was a central figure in building the relentless clay-court game that produced 14 French Open titles.

For Swiatek, who has cited Nadal as her ultimate tennis idol, having access to both the coach and the player ahead of her most important surface felt almost ideal.

Polish journalist Tytus Olszewski was present at some of the Mallorca sessions and offered an encouraging early verdict.

"Iga has fantastic working conditions at the Nadal Academy in Mallorca, and the collaboration with her coach looks very promising. They communicate excellently, and Francisco provides feedback on the spot in English," he wrote on social media.

The reaction from the wider tennis world was notable too.

"This is priceless for Iga Pop, so cool to see Vamos Rafa on the practice court," former Coco Gauff coach and analyst Brad Gilbert wrote on social media after footage of the sessions emerged.

"I feel like that's perfect for Iga, though," world number five Jessica Pegula said when asked about the partnership. Madison Keys was more light-hearted, joking that Nadal's involvement should be "illegal."

Swiatek arrives in Stuttgart with a 2026 win-loss record of 12-6, a figure that reflects a difficult season on hard courts.

She lost in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open and suffered defeats in Doha and Indian Wells before her second-round loss to Magda Linette in Miami proved the final straw. That defeat dropped her from world number three to number four and led directly to the coaching change.

The Stuttgart return carries extra weight. Swiatek is a two-time champion at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, winning back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023.

She has won her first ten matches at the venue across her career. Her opening match is against Laura Siegemund, and she is seeded third in the draw.

Looking ahead, Swiatek set her expectations deliberately low.

"My expectations would be to just improve on the practice court, then maybe on matches, but really not be too harsh on myself, not judge too quickly, but really make it a full process. Like people say, it's not a sprint, it's a marathon," she said.

Roland Garros begins on May 24. Swiatek has won four French Open titles and will be desperate to reclaim the title she lost in 2025. e.