3 reasons why Iga Swiatek hiring Wim Fissette could be a good move for the World No. 1
Iga Swiatek's search for a new coach following her split with Tomasz Wiktorowski has come to an end, and she has now added Wim Fissette to her team. She announced the decision on Thursday, October 17, and also confirmed her presence at the WTA Finals.
Swiatek was the first player to qualify for the WTA Finals in early August. However, she skipped the Asian swing following her quarterfinal exit from the US Open and then parted ways with her long-time coach Wiktorowski.
The Pole mentioned that she was on the lookout for a foreign coach this time, and Fissette was on the hunt for a new gig as well. His coaching agreement with Naomi Osaka also came to an end last month, who has since hired Patrick Mouratoglou.
Aside from Osaka, Fissette has also worked with the likes of Victoria Azarenka, Simona Halep, Angelique Kerber, and Kim Clijsters, among others. He has the credentials for the job, and here's why working with him could prove to be the right move on Swiatek's part:
#1 - Players have tasted immediate success after working with Wim Fissette
If Fissette's past record is anything to go by, then Swiatek is due for another big title very soon. Players have often experienced an uptick in their form upon hiring the Belgian.
Clijsters returned from maternity leave in 2009 and added Fissette to her team. She won the US Open that year, just the third tournament of her comeback. Their partnership proved to be quite successful, and together they won the Australian Open in 2011, and the US Open and WTA Finals in 2010.
They parted ways in September 2011, and Fissette started working with Sabine Lisicki in 2013. He led her to the only Major final of her career at Wimbledon that year, and she even beat Serena Williams en route to the summit clash.
Fissette joined forces with Halep in 2014, and she reached her maiden Major final at the French Open that year. He moved on to coach Azarenka a year later and helped her regain her past form. She won the Indian Wells Open and Miami Open in 2016, and they were together until she took a maternity break.
Kerber's breakthrough season in 2016 saw her claim two Major titles and ascend to the top of the rankings. However, she couldn't maintain the same level of success in 2017 and fell out of the top 20. She then hired Fissette, and she was back on top once again.
Kerber triumphed at Wimbledon in 2018 and returned to the top five. Following a brief stint with Azarenka once again, Fissette started working with Osaka, and she won the US Open in 2020, and the Australian Open the following year. Given his stellar track record and Swiatek's innate talent, it wouldn't be surprising to see her claim some big titles right off the bat.
#2 - Wim Fissette could guide Iga Swiatek to more hardcourt Majors and improve her skills on grass
Fissette has coached players to six Major titles throughout his career, and five of them have come on hard courts. He knows how to transform their games to yield the best results on the surface, and that's something Swiatek would've had in mind when she hired him.
Swiatek reached the semifinals of the Australian Open in 2022 and won the US Open that year as well. However, she has only one quarterfinal appearance in those two Majors since then.
Furthermore, Fissette also knows how to tweak players' games for grass, which remains Swiatek's weakest surface. She's yet to reach a final on the surface and has a lone quarterfinal appearance at Wimbledon. The grass court Major and the Australian Open are the next frontiers for Swiatek to conquer, and she could certainly do so under his guidance.
#3 - Wim Fissette's tactical astuteness will prove to be a crucial asset for Iga Swiatek
Analyzing your own player and their opponent's games is a part of every coach's job. However, how they do the same, and devise tactics for the future, is unique to every coach. Fissette is one of the very best at what he does in that regard, and that is evident in his past accomplishments.
Fissette has worked with a variety of players with different styles of play, and this adaptability will prove to be quite beneficial for Swiatek. He's not a one-trick pony, and his insight will help her elevate her game even further.
Additionally, Fissette is a thorough professional, and his calm demeanor stands in contrast to some other coaches, who at times radiate indifference or a little too much concern to the detriment of their player. Swiatek has a good head on her shoulders and has already accomplished a lot, and this move could further cement her status as an all-time great.