As the French Open approaches, the tennis world is abuzz with speculation about Iga Swiatek’s preparations on the clay courts of Roland Garros. The 23-year-old Polish superstar, a four-time French Open champion, was recently spotted practicing at the iconic venue two weeks ahead of the tournament’s May 25 start, an unusually early arrival that has fans and analysts intrigued. Adding fuel to the chatter, Swiatek was seen working alongside a familiar figure—Wim Fissette, her new coach, whose presence signals a bold shift in her team dynamics after a challenging season. This sighting, captured in a video shared by Roland Garros, has reignited discussions about Swiatek’s strategy to reclaim her dominance on her favorite surface.
Swiatek’s 2025 season has been a rollercoaster. Despite a stellar 27-9 record, she has yet to secure a title since her French Open triumph in June 2024, marking the longest title drought of her professional career. Her third-round exit at the Italian Open to Danielle Collins, coupled with personal challenges including a doping scandal and family matters, has seen her slip to world No. 2, with Aryna Sabalenka hot on her heels. “I saw my tennis being worse and worse every day,” Swiatek admitted earlier this year, reflecting on her struggles after a confounding loss to Linda Noskova at the Australian Open. The pressure of maintaining her clay-court supremacy, where she boasts an unparalleled 20-match winning streak at Roland Garros, has only intensified.
The decision to practice at Roland Garros so early underscores Swiatek’s determination to reverse her fortunes. The video showed her unleashing blistering forehands under Fissette’s watchful eye, a testament to their burgeoning partnership. Fissette, a Belgian coaching veteran who has guided Naomi Osaka, Kim Clijsters, and Angelique Kerber to Grand Slam glory, joined Swiatek’s team in October 2024 after her split with long-time coach Tomasz Wiktorowski. “I’m excited and motivated to start a new chapter,” Swiatek said at the time, emphasizing her long-term vision. “My career is a marathon for me, not a sprint.” Fissette’s data-driven approach and experience with top players have already shown promise, with Swiatek reaching the Australian Open semifinals earlier this year, falling just short against Madison Keys in a tight tiebreak.
Fissette’s influence is evident in Swiatek’s aggressive playstyle, which he has encouraged without overhauling her instincts. “I think it depends on the coach and what he says because, you know, it’s not like Wim came and he told me to play in a way that I can’t,” Swiatek noted during the Australian Open, praising Fissette’s supportive demeanor. His ability to tailor strategies to individual players, as seen in his work with Osaka during her near-upset of Swiatek at last year’s French Open, makes him a perfect fit for Swiatek’s introspective and analytical approach. “He’s very data-driven. He prepares himself really well every match, looking at the numbers every day,” said Filip Dewulf, a former French Open semifinalist familiar with Fissette’s methods.
The early Roland Garros practice also reflects Swiatek’s mental reset, guided by her trusted psychologist, Daria Abramowicz, who was present alongside Fissette. Swiatek’s introversion, often cited as a strength, allows her to block out external noise—a skill she’ll need against a stacked field that includes Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, and rising stars like Qinwen Zheng. “I’m working on finding joy off the court,” Swiatek shared in a recent interview, hinting at her efforts to balance intense preparation with personal well-being. Her team, including fitness coach Maciej Ryszczuk and hitting partner Tomasz Moczek, remains a tight-knit unit, ensuring continuity despite the coaching change.
As Swiatek fine-tunes her game on the red dirt, the tennis world watches closely. Will Fissette’s expertise unlock new dimensions in her already formidable arsenal? Can she fend off challengers to claim a fifth French Open title? The early practice sessions suggest a player hungry to evolve, ready to turn her “tennis time machine” back to the days of her 2022 37-match winning streak. For now, Swiatek’s focus is clear: conquer the clay, one ferocious forehand at a time.
— 1GA Daily (@shetookthem) May 17, 2025
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