“This change is really challenging for me and this decision wasn’t easy, either…” Iga Swiatek wrote on her social media about her split with her former coach of five years, Piotr Sierzputowski, in 2021. Swiatek did not waste any time and soon joined forces with Tomasz Wiktorowski, who helped her achieve four grand slams, 19 titles, and reach the coveted No. 1 position! Fast forward to the present and she has ended ties with the Polish coach as well. To make matters controversial a turbulent history between the duo has surfaced. Was it the same with Sierzputowski, too? Well, the former coach has a straightforward answer!
As per the Przeglad Sportowy Onet, Sierzputowski has spilled the beans on why his partnership with Iga Swiatek ended. “Iga and I had a few extreme situations when we were fed up with each other. One of them ultimately ended our cooperation. The Polish coach believes that in a coach-trainer relationship, the player is the ‘boss’, added, “However, it was not a big surprise, because I expected such a decision. When there is progress, you can grit your teeth and work despite different visions. When failures occur more often, the difference of opinion turns out to be insurmountable.”
For context. After parting ways with her primary coach, Michal Kaznowski, during her early junior days, Swiatek opted for a fresh perspective in 2016. Sierzputowski entered the team of the then 15-year-old Swiatek.
Within a few years, their partnership began to show results as the Pole clinched her Wimbledon girls’ title, French Open girls’ title and Youth Olympics doubles title in her junior tennis career! A similar scenario unfolded as Swiatek entered the WTA Tour as well and won her first major title in the 2020 French Open at the age of only 19 years.
For pushing her to this massive success, Sierzputowski shared the spotlight with Swiatek and even won the prestigious WTA Coach of the Year Award. Swiatek further built on this success the next year and reached her then-career-high rank of No. 4 after winning multiple titles. Her consistent high-quality performance paved the way for her to make a debut in the WTA Finals as well.
However, soon, cracks began to develop in their relationship and they amicably parted ways. Per the Pole’s statement, (after they split up), “change” is necessary in the professional world to ‘evolve’ and develop. Nevertheless, she showed her gratitude towards him and “truly appreciated” Sierzputowski for his massive contribution. Moreover, after the split up, Switek’s former coach also opened up on their journey and shared about his student’s “greatest asset.”
Sierzputowski opens up on Iga Swiatek’s “desire to win”
After parting ways with Iga Swiatek, Piotr Sierzputowski shared that Swiatek never compromised on her training regime. Per her, the Polish star is “taught to be diligent.” But he also mentioned how their trust in each other slowly faded away, which led to the “burnout.” The Polish coach mentioned that they reached a complacent stage and stopped growing. Elaborating further on Swiatek’s decision, he said, “At the meeting with Iga and the staff, she told me what decision she had made. In my opinion, she led this conversation very well.”
Sierzputowski further praised her ex-protégé when asked about her greatest asset, “The desire to win is her greatest motivation. It’s not about money, it’s not about fame. It’s about winning.” He correctly predicted Swiatek’s potential to rise to the No. 1 spot in tennis within the next few years. Interestingly, Swiatek has now indeed completed over 123 weeks as the World No. 1 player, but her hunger for more has remained the same. Now, as she embarks on the new chapter of her career, hopefully, we will find her achieving more success under a new coach!