Iga Swiatek announces split from long-term coach Tomasz Wiktorowski
Iga Swiatek has announced that she is parting ways with her coach of three years Tomasz Wiktorowski, revealing that she is ‘ready to take the next step’.
Swiatek has not competed since the US Open, withdrawing from the WTA 1000 event in Beijing last week due to ‘personal matters’.
Statement from @iga_swiatek: “Due to personal matters, I’m forced to withdraw from the @ChinaOpen in Beijing. I’m very sorry as I had an amazing time playing and winning this tournament last year and was really looking forward to being back there.
“I know that the fans will…
— wta (@WTA) September 20, 2024
However, the World No.1 has now taken to social media to confirm that she will no longer be working with Wiktorowski, who having joined forces at the end of 2021.
“After 3 years of the greatest achievements in my career, together with my coach Tomasz Wiktorowski we decided to part ways,” said Swiatek. “I want to start with a big thank you and appreciating our work together.”
The 23-year-old continued, “Coach Wiktorowski joined my team for three seasons, when I strongly needed changes and a fresh approach to my game. His experience, analytical and strategic attitude and enormous knowledge about tennis helped us to achieve things I’ve never dreamed of only a few months after we started working together.
“Our main goal was to become No.1 player in the world and coach Wiktorowski was the one who said it first. We aimed very high, we headed to every tournament with a clear goal to win it. Together with coach Wiktorowski we won many tournaments and 4 Grand Slams.”
Wiktorowski, who had previously coached fellow Pole Agnieszka Radwanska for seven years, helped Swiatek claim four of her five total Grand Slam titles, nine WTA 1000 trophies, the WTA Finals last year and the top spot in the world rankings for 123 weeks and counting.
They have achieved a lot of records together, with Swiatek enjoying the longest winning streak this century in 2022 after 37 consecutive victories.
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As the statement continued, Swiatek offered more thanks to Wiktorowski and the rest of her team, revealing that she is now seeking a non-Polish coach.
“It happened thanks to my entire sports team, with my fitness coach and physio Maciej Ryszczuk and my psychologist Daria Abramowicz on board,” added Swiatek. “Coach, THANK YOU, I wish you all the best. I know that you would like to rest after 3 years of hard work and travelling a lot and spend some well deserved time with your loved ones and I hope you’ll get what you need.
“Due to this important change on my team, I give myself a couple of weeks to start a cooperation with a new coach. I’m in the middle of first talks with coaches from abroad (non-Polish) because I’m ready to take the next step of my career. I will let you know when I make a decision.”
It is still not yet known who that coach will be to fill the shoes of Wiktorowski, with Swiatek also withdrawing from competing at the Wuhan Open next week.
Iga said: “After an important change in my sports team, I decided to withdraw from the tournament in Wuhan. I’m really sorry for fans in China and those who wait to see me play, but I hope you understand that I need some time.”
— DONGFENG VOYAH • WUHAN OPEN (@wuhanopentennis) October 4, 2024
Inside the baseline…
This announcement has come as somewhat of a surprise, with Iga Swiatek and Tomasz Wiktorowski having so much success together since joining forces three years ago. However, it does seem to provide an explanation for Swiatek’s recent withdrawals from both the Korea Open and the China Open. It will be very intriguing to see what Swiatek’s next step is, as it is hard to imagine her without Wiktorowski in her corner.
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