By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Friday November 1, 2024
Photo Source: Matthew Calvis
As she ramps up to play for the first time since this year’s US Open, things will be very different on the surface for Iga Swiatek. Gone from her coaching box is Tomasz Wiktorowski, the man who helped guide her to four of her five major titles. In is Wim Fissette, another supercoach with a highly regarded pedigree.
Speaking to reporters ahead of this year’s WTA Finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Swiatek says that we shouldn’t expect too much too soon from the change – her decision was made with long-term growth in mind.
“I spent this time still playing tennis and for sure focusing on finding new coach,” she said of the time between today and the end of her US Open, where she lost to Jessica Pegula in the quarterfinals. “Making this transition, it’s always tricky. For me it’s a decision hopefully for years because I look at my career kind of long-term.”
What type of things does the five-time Grand Slam champion and former World No.1 hope to learn from Fissette?
“I think it’s kind of obvious,” she said. “I for sure want to improve my serve, as I’ve been doing for past years. I feel like I still need to continue that. For sure I’m not a complete player. I think tactically there are many ways I could go and have more variety on court. Wim has some nice ideas.”
Swiatek, who is 54-7 on the season with five titles, says she’s happy to take things slow. The real deep dive will happen in the pre-season leadup to the 2025 Australian Open.
“Honestly for now we’ve just been preparing for this tournament and getting to know each other,” she said. “The real changes, we’re going to talk about them during the off-season because that’s the proper time to do it. For now I’ve been trying to just be in the best shape for this tournament. Some technicalities, we’re going to work on them in the pre-season.” The Hunt for No.1 a Non-Factor
The media likes the narrative of a duel for the No.1 ranking at the WTA Finals. They have it this year as the Pole could recapture the No.1 ranking from Sabalenka by making a title run, but Swiatek says it isn’t important for her at the moment.
Does she know how many points she needs to take back the top spot from Sabalenka?
“I don’t. I want to play the best kind of tennis. That’s what I need to do,” she said, adding: “She’s a great player. She also kind of deserves to be world No. 1. For sure I’m going to fight for me to be in that place.”
