Emma Raducanu's ex-coach set to work with rival after being 'set up by Rafael Nadal'
Emma Raducanu's former coach, Francisco Roig, will reportedly start working with WTA Tour rival Iga Swiatek. The six-time Grand Slam champion split with her own coach, Wim Fissette, earlier this week, and is expected to head to the Rafa Nadal Academy for a pre-clay swing training block, where she will link up with Roig.
The Spanish tennis coach previously worked with Nadal. Last summer, he joined Raducanu's team, but they ended their partnership following the Australian Open in January. They maintain a good relationship, but the British No. 1 explained that it was Roig who initiated the split, and they didn't seem to align on key plans for her game.
Roig was then spotted working with French ATP star Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in Indian Wells. But according to Przeglad Sportowy Onet, he will join Swiatek at Nadal's academy in Mallorca for something of a trial run.
Swiatek has long been a self-confessed Nadal fan and turned up in the stands to watch his tribute ceremony at the French Open last year. And per Sport.pl, the 22-time Grand Slam champion was the one who recommended Roig to Swiatek "This is supposed to be an opportunity to get to know each other. To see if there's chemistry," the Polish outlet was told.
The world No. 3's physical coach, Maciej Ryszczuk, recently confirmed that Swiatek was hoping to find a new full-time coach before her next tournament, the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, which takes place from April 13 to 19.
Swiatek has been one of Raducanu's toughest rivals - they've faced off five times, and the world No. 23 has never even taken a set off the Polish star. They met at the Australian Open and French Open last year. In Melbourne, Raducanu suffered a 6-1 6-0 thrashing. In Paris, Swiatek stormed to a 6-1 6-2 victory.
While the world No. 3 is already on the hunt for her next full-time coach, Raducanu has taken a different approach. The Brit is not actively looking for a new mentor and is happy to spend periods of her career without a coach.
Following her split from Roig, Raducanu has travelled with hitting partner Alexis Canter and physiotherapist Emma Stewart. In Indian Wells, she sought the help of ex-coach Mark Petchey.
The WTA coaching carousel has been spinning in recent days, as world No. 6 Amanda Anisimova announced her split from Rick Vleeshouwers on Friday. Vleeshouwers joined the American's team when she returned from a hiatus in 2024. Under his guidance, Anisimova reached two Grand Slam finals, won two WTA 1000 titles, and peaked at No. 3 in the world.
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