Victoria Mboko has turned to a new coach ahead of embarking on her second Grand Slam campaign of 2026.
Earlier this week, Mboko was pictured in training with Iga Swiatek’s former coach, Wim Fissette, in Strasbourg.
Who has impressed you the most?
Fissette and Swiatek worked together for the best part of 18 months, before parting ways at the end of March.
Since then, Fissette has continued in his role Belgium’s Billie Jean King Cup team Captain.
According to reputable journalist Ben Rothenberg, Mboko has hired Fissette on a trial basis, rather than permanently.
Victoria Mboko should make Wim Fissette her full-time coach
Wim Fissette is one of the most successful coaches of the modern era, and Victoria Mboko should waste little time in assessing his credentials when it comes to potentially hiring the Belgian as her full-time coach.
The Belgian has coached a variety of WTA Tour players since 2009, including Kim Clijsters, Angelique Kerber, Naomi Osaka and Iga Swiatek.
Simply put, almost every single player that Wim Fissette has coached on the WTA Tour has achieved remarkable success.
Kim Clijsters was the first to achieve success with Fissette in her coaching team, winning two US Open titles and an Australian Open title between 2009 and 2011.
Two years later, the Belgian coached Sabine Lisicki, who achieved her career highlight by reaching the Wimbledon Ladies Singles final that year.
In 2014, Fissette worked with former world number one Simona Halep. That year, with the help of Fissette, Halep reached the French Open final before losing to Maria Sharapova in three sets.
Fissette has also worked with three other former Grand Slam champions: Victoria Azarenka, Angelique Kerber and Naomi Osaka.
Azarenka won the 2016 Sunshine Double while under Fissette’s guidance [winning Indian Wells and Miami in the same calendar year].
Two years later, Kerber won the Wimbledon title while being coached by Fissette.
Osaka, a four-time major champion, won two of her Grand Slam titles with Fissette in her coaching team from 2020 to 2022.
Of course it would be disingenuous to suggest that the success these players achieved was solely due to the influence of Fissette’s coaching.
These players achieved their success through their own hard work, with Fissette’s influence undoubtedly an additional positive influence.
Every player Wim Fissette has coached on the WTA Tour
- Kim Clijsters (2009–2011)
- Sabine Lisicki (2013)
- Simona Halep (2014)
- Victoria Azarenka (2015–2016)
- Petra Kvitová (2016)
- Sara Errani (2016)
- Johanna Konta (2016–2017)
- Angelique Kerber (2017–2018)
- Victoria Azarenka (2018–2020)
- Naomi Osaka (2020–2022)
- Zheng Qinwen (2023)
- Naomi Osaka (2023–2024)
- Iga Świątek (2024–2026)
- Victoria Mboko (2026–Present)
However, there can be little doubting the Belgian’s track record of success.
Victoria Mboko, one of the most talented players on the WTA Tour, should take full advantage of Fissette’s experience and positive track record and hire the Belgian as her full-time coach.
Victoria Mboko’s Strasbourg Open draw
Mboko, the top seed in Strasbourg, has received an automatic bye through to the second round.
There she will face 2025 French Open semi-finalist Lois Boisson.
Boisson, who has endured an injury-hit year on the Tour, defeated China’s Xinyu Wang in her opening match in the French city.
If Mboko advances past Boisson, she is likely to face seventh seed Leylah Fernandez in the quarter-finals.
Should the Canadian advance to the last four, she will most likely play fourth seed Clara Tauson or sixth seed Liudmila Samsonova.
If Mboko were to qualify for the final, she is projected to play second seed Ekaterina Alexandrova.
Elena Rybakina, the defending champion in Strasbourg, is not competing at this year’s event.
