Iga Swiatek has been training at the Rafael Nadal Academy ahead of the clay-court season.
After splitting from Wim Fissette, Swiatek hired Francisco Roig, Rafael Nadal’s former coach.
The trio spent time together in Mallorca, as Swiatek learnt from two of Spain’s greatest tennis minds.
How many Grand Slam titles will Iga Swiatek win with Francisco Roig as her coach?
She's signed one of the best coaches on tour!
Swiatek has now sent a message to Nadal on Instagram as she ramps up preparations for the Stuttgart Open.
Iga Swiatek thanks Rafael Nadal after training together in Spain
The Pole was thankful for the experience, as she got to work with her idol at his academy.
“Training, learning and embracing each day here in Mallorca,” said Swiatek.
“Thank you, Rafael Nadal, for making me feel at home.”
Roig and Nadal’s relationship may well have played a role in Swiatek’s decision to hire him as her new coach.
The 58-year-old was a member of Nadal’s team for most of his career, and they remain close.
That could allow Swiatek to train with Nadal and Roig, in effect, getting ‘two for the price of one’.
Nadal is the undisputed greatest clay-court player of all time.
Few players have threatened to challenge, never mind replicate his dominance on the red dirt.
The one player who has looked even remotely like a contender is Swiatek.
Comparing Iga Swiatek and Rafael Nadal on clay
| Player | Clay win % | French Open titles | Madrid Open titles | Italian Open titles | Clay titles |
| Rafael Nadal | 90% | 14 (19 appearances) | 5 (17 appearances) | 10 (19 appearances) | 63 |
| Iga Swiatek | 87% | 4 (7 appearances) | 1 (4 appearances) | 3 (6 appearances) | 10 |
At 24, Swiatek is already a four-time French Open champion.
She is admittedly 10 away from matching Nadal’s 14 Roland Garros titles, but it’s a strong start!
And if she is to close the gap, who better to learn from than the man himself, and the man who coached him.
After a tricky year on tour, dropping to world number four, this might be the move that takes Swiatek back to the very top of women’s tennis.
What’s at stake for Iga Swiatek on clay?
At her best, Swiatek is the best clay-court player on the WTA Tour.
Unfortunately for the Pole, she was far from her best on clay last year…
Iga Swiatek on clay in 2025
- Stuttgart Open – Lost in QF (108 points)
- Madrid Open – Lost in SF (390 points)
- Italian Open – Lost in 3R (65 points)
- French Open – Lost in SF (780 points)
- Total – 1,343 points
Her disappointing 2025 campaign does, however, open the door for her to make a statement this time around.
With fewer points to defend than two of her biggest rivals, Swiatek could close the gap to world number one Aryna Sabalenka, providing she rediscovers the form that saw her win four French Open titles.
Points the WTA top five are defending on clay
- 1. Aryna Sabalenka (2,840 points) – 11,025 total points
- 2. Elena Rybakina (810 points) – 8,108 total points
- 3. Coco Gauff (3,408 points) – 7,278 total points
- 4. Iga Swiatek (1,343 points) – 7,263 total points
- 5. Jessica Pegula (1,010 points) – 6,243 total points
It remains to be seen what version of Swiatek we will see on clay, but fans won’t have to wait long to find out!
Despite Swiatek’s withdrawal from Poland’s Billie Jean King Cup tie vs Ukraine, she still plans to attend the Stuttgart Open, an event she’s won twice before.
A losing quarter-finalist a year ago, Swiatek will return to southwestern Germany with a point to prove in 2026.
Will the Swiatek/Roig era begin with a title? Only time will tell…
The 2026 Stuttgart Open begins on Monday, April 13.
