Iga Swiatek confirms Wim Fissette as new coach, tempers expectations ahead of WTA Finals

Iga Swiatek announced Thursday that she has hired Wim Fissette as her new coach; the upcoming WTA Finals will serve as the first tournament of their partnership.

“As you know, I’m preparing for the WTA Finals but my perspective is, as always, long-term, not short-term,” Swiatek wrote on social media, tempering expectations ahead of an event which will feature the world’s Top 8 players. “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 confirmed a split with coach Tomasz Wiktorowski following the US Open, ending a partnership that began at the end of 2021. Under Wiktorowski, Swiatek won four major titles, including this year’s Roland Garros—her fourth title overall in Paris.

While the 23-year-old remains atop the WTA rankings, she has seen her No. 1 ranking under threat by rival Aryna Sabalenka, who has stormed through the summer and fall hard-court swings with wins at the US Open and the Dongfeng Voyah Wuhan Open.

Swiatek, who has not competed since a US Open quarterfinal defeat to Jessica Pegula, outlined her plans to hire an “international coach” following her withdrawal from tournaments in Beijing and Wuhan.

Fissette fits the bill in that regard: the Belgian has worked with some of the most successful players of the last decade and a half, dating back to a winning stint with former world No. 1 Kim Clijsters. He has since coached a slew of world No. 1s and major champions, including Simona Halep, Victoria Azarenka, and Angelique Kerber. He was most recently paired with Naomi Osaka, with whom she won major titles at the 2020 US Open and the 2021 Australian Open.

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. Iga Swiatek

Osaka announced her split from Fissette following a second-round exit from the US Open.

“I want to say that I’m very excited and looking forward to working with Wim,” Swiatek wrote. “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.”

As the defending WTA Finals champion, Swiatek will need an equally strong result at the event’s inaugural staging in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to hold off Sabalenka, who trails the Pole by less than 70 points, for the year-end No. 1 ranking.