Swiatek Details Challenges Of Working With Non-Polish Coach For First Time
WTA
Iga Swiatek's partnership with Naomi Osaka's former coach, Wim Fissette, marks her first time working with a non-Polish coach, and the World No. 2 discussed what that experience has been like.
Swiatek worked with her former coach, Tomasz Wiktorowski, for nearly three years. During her spell with him, she won three French Opens and the 2022 US Open and dominated the No. 1 ranking.
There were rumors that Wiktorowski instigated the split after becoming frustrated with Swiatek's psychologist, Daria Abramowicz's role, but the 43-year-old coach dismissed those reports as fake news.
The four-time French Open champion made it clear when announcing the split with Wiktorowski that she wanted to work with a non-Polish coach for the first time, which led to Fissette's hiring.
Osaka had two spells working with Osaka. The Japanese star won the 2020 US Open and 2021 Australian Open during their first period together, but they did not enjoy the same success after reuniting this year for Osaka's comeback to the sport.
Fissette coached Angelique Kerber to the 2018 Wimbledon title. The Belgian also helped Kim Clijsters win two US Open crowns and the 2011 Australian Open.
The experienced coach has high hopes about helping Swiatek, who he believes is the best female athlete in tennis history. That is a significant statement that others might argue applies more to Coco Gauff or previous WTA stars in the sport's history.
Swiatek won her first match with Fissette as her coach at the WTA Finals. She needed an outstanding comeback to beat the Wimbledon champion, who at one stage led by a set and 3-0.
The former world No. 1 talked in a press conference about hiring a non-Polish coach for the first time, admitting her English was not good enough in the past to work with a foreign coach.
"When I was changing coach at the end of 2021 I knew I wasn't ready for a coach that speaks in a foreign language. Now, I feel like my English is better, and I have more space in my head to communicate in not my native language."
"It's weird because I talk about tennis my whole life but I always talk about it in Polish. The same with the physio, my time has always been Polish. It's nice to learn new vocabulary that should be obvious for me but apparently it was not."
"I don't think it's a concern, especially because Wim is patient and he doesn't have a problem with talking a bit longer and all that. So, I don't think it's going to be an issue."
Swiatek was also asked about Fissette's use of stats. Last year's WTA Finals champion admits she often likes to live more in the moment than use stats, but she thinks the two approaches can complement each other.
"I'm more a feeling kind of person but I think for sure we can compliment each other with these two things. I really liked his pre-match talk because it was different to what I'm used to. It was based on stats, but he was also able to show me the truth, so it was easier to trust it."
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