Iga Swiatek Trains at Rafa Nadal Academy with New Coach Francisco Roig

World No. 1 tennis player begins new chapter with coaching change ahead of clay season

Apr. 3, 2026 at 1:37pm

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting a tennis court scene with the forms of Iga Swiatek and Rafael Nadal broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric planes in a vibrant color palette, capturing the raw energy and movement of the sport.Iga Swiatek's transition to the Rafa Nadal Academy signals her commitment to adapting her game for the demanding clay court season.Today in Miami

Iga Swiatek has officially started training at the Rafa Nadal Academy under the guidance of new coach Francisco Roig, a longtime member of Nadal's coaching team. This marks a new chapter for the world No. 1 player, who parted ways with previous coach Wim Fissette following an early exit at the Miami Open. Swiatek shared images on social media of her practicing on clay alongside Roig and Nadal, signaling her preparation for the upcoming European clay court swing.

Why it matters

Swiatek's coaching change comes at a critical time, as she looks to defend her French Open title and maintain her position atop the women's tennis rankings. Roig's experience working with Nadal could provide valuable insights to help Swiatek adapt her game and strategy for the demanding clay court season.

The details

After parting ways with coach Wim Fissette, Iga Swiatek has officially joined the coaching team at the Rafa Nadal Academy, where she will be working with Francisco Roig. Roig has been a longtime member of Nadal's coaching staff and is expected to bring his expertise in clay court tennis to help Swiatek prepare for the upcoming European swing.

  • On March 19, Swiatek lost to Magda Linette in the second round of the Miami Open.
  • On April 3, Swiatek shared images on social media of her practicing at the Rafa Nadal Academy with Roig and Nadal.

The players

Iga Swiatek

The current world No. 1 women's tennis player, who has won multiple Grand Slam titles including the French Open.

Francisco Roig

A longtime member of Rafael Nadal's coaching team, who will now be working with Swiatek to help her prepare for the clay court season.

Rafael Nadal

The legendary Spanish tennis player, whose academy Swiatek is now training at under Roig's guidance.

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What they’re saying

“Welcome to the team, Francisco! Very excited for this new chapter.”

— Iga Swiatek

What’s next

Swiatek is scheduled to compete next at the Madrid Open, which begins on May 1. Her performance and results during the upcoming clay court season will be closely watched as she looks to defend her French Open title and maintain her world No. 1 ranking.

The takeaway

Swiatek's coaching change to work with Francisco Roig at the Rafa Nadal Academy signals her commitment to adapting her game for the demanding clay court season. Her ability to successfully transition to this new coaching setup could be a key factor in her quest to defend her French Open title and cement her status as the dominant force in women's tennis.