On October 4th, Iga Swiatek announced her split from coach Tomasz Wiktorowski, sending shockwaves across the community and leaving fans to wonder what went wrong after such a successful partnership. While initially deemed mutual, it was later reported in Polish media that the decision was primarily Wiktorowski’s. Now, the world No. 1 is taking a break from the hectic WTA tour and will not be present at the Asian Swing of the tour. She’s resting up to recuperate and probably seek a new coach in the meantime. But that leaves the big question, what’s next for Wiktorowski? Well, it’s safe to say that he’s moving on to a less chaotic role.
Since joining forces at the end of 2021, Wiktorowski played a pivotal role in Swiatek’s rise, to say the least. With him, she reached the pinnacle of women’s tennis. Their collaboration was marked by a remarkable 37-match winning streak for Swiatek in 2022. The Pole also went on to become the No.1 player in the WTA world rankings. But after all that, it was sad to see them part ways. But it’s for the better as Wiktorowski seemed eager to take on a less demanding role back home in Poland.
Now, Wiktorowski is set to take on a new challenge at a large tennis academy near Zegrze Reservoir. He will reportedly manage sixteen courts that are owned by billionaire Jozef Wojciechowski. The role is said to be promising in terms of a more stable environment, which must be a relief from the stress of traveling for years. Even though he achieved much success while working with top players like Agnieszka Radwanska and Swiatek.
After the announcement of their split, Iga shared a heartfelt social media post, expressing gratitude for their time together. “Coach Wiktorowski joined my team when I needed a fresh approach,” she wrote. “His experience and strategic mindset helped us achieve dreams I never thought possible.”
While Swiatek takes a break from the tour following her quarterfinal exit at the US Open, where she played against Jessica Pegula in an intense battle, there has been speculation about her next steps. Right now she has withdrawn from the Asian swing, citing exhaustion and the need for reflection after a change in his coaching staff.
As she embarks on this new chapter, fans are eager to see who will step into Wiktorowski’s shoes.
Iga’s on the lookout for a new coach while the world speculates
One can only imagine what a tumultuous few weeks it must have been for the Polish star. She’s at the peak of her abilities and is now without a coach. Swiatek’s recent performances have begun to take a toll. And although many spectators are trying to figure out what went wrong. During an interview with Sport.pl, journalist Adam Addicottan gave his insight on the situation so far, stating, “Everything is still unclear. A lot is happening around Iga, but not much has been communicated.”
For now, it looks like Swiatek has turned to a familiar face for guidance. Dawid Celt, Poland’s Billie Jean King Cup captain, will step in as her temporary coach for the WTA Finals in Riyadh. There’s been another rumor floating around as well.
Journalist Nacho Albarran of Asa floated another idea recently. With Rafael Nadal retiring in November at the Davis Cup, his coach Carlos Moya may be likely to consider another coaching opportunity and according to Albarran, Moya can help Swiatek with her game because of his long experience as a coach. However, this is just Albarran’s idea and there are no reports yet that Moya is likely to join Swiatek’s team.