Iga Swiatek has decided to hire Wim Fissette as her new coach. She announced this on social media on Thursday, sharing that Fissette has worked with many top players like Naomi Osaka, Kim Clijsters, and Victoria Azarenka.
“I’m excited and motivated to start a new chapter,” wrote the No. 1-ranked Swiatek, who ended her three-year partnership with Tomasz Wiktorowski two weeks ago.
Swiatek hasn’t played since September 4, when she lost in the U.S. Open quarterfinals to Jessica Pegula, who went on to be the runner-up. She has since withdrawn from the China Open and Korea Open.
Her next competition will be the WTA Finals in November, held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
“As you know, I’m preparing for the WTA Finals but my perspective is, as always, long-term, not short-term. I said many times that my career is a marathon for me, not a sprint, and I’m working, operating, and making decisions with this approach,” Swiatek shared on Thursday.
“I want to say that I’m very excited and looking forward to working with Wim. He seems to have a great attitude, vision, and huge experience at a very top level of tennis. It’s always crucial to try and get to know each other better but we’re off to a good start and I can’t wait to compete soon.”
This season, Swiatek has a record of 54-7, with five titles and about $7.5 million in prize money. She won the French Open in June, marking her third consecutive title in Paris and her fourth in five years, bringing her total Grand Slam wins to five. Four of those titles were won while working with Wiktorowski.
The 23-year-old from Poland also earned a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics in August. She will be aiming to keep her year-end No. 1 ranking ahead of Sabalenka.
Fissette, who is from Belgium, is Swiatek’s first coach who is not Polish. He most recently worked with Osaka, helping her secure two of her four Grand Slam titles. He has also coached Clijsters and Angelique Kerber to major championships, along with other No. 1 players like Azarenka and Simona Halep.
