World number one Iga Swiatek revealed on Thursday via her social media channels that she has hired Wim Fissette to lead her coaching team. Fissette brings a wealth of experience from his time working with elite champions such as Naomi Osaka, Victoria Azarenka, and Kim Clijsters. Swiatek's last competitive appearance was on September 4 during the U.S. Open quarterfinals, where she was defeated by Jessica Pegula. After missing the Korea and China Opens, the top seed is now preparing for the season-ending WTA Finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, scheduled for November.
Following a three-year tenure with Tomasz Wiktorowski that ended two weeks ago, Swiatek shared that she is motivated to start this fresh chapter. While she is currently focusing on the upcoming WTA Finals, the Polish athlete stressed that her approach to her career remains long-term. She reiterated that she treats her professional journey as a marathon, not a sprint, and ensures her decisions reflect that sustainable mindset.
Swiatek expressed her genuine excitement about partnering with Wim, highlighting his impressive track record and positive outlook on the game. Although she acknowledged that building a rapport takes time, she feels their cooperation is off to a strong start and mentioned she is restless to return to competitive play.
It has been a dominant year for Swiatek, boasting a 54-7 record, five titles, and earnings exceeding $7.5 million. Her success includes a third consecutive French Open title in June—her fourth in five years—bringing her career total to five Grand Slams, four of which were won under Wiktorowski's guidance. Additionally, the 23-year-old secured a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics in August. She is currently in a tight race with Aryna Sabalenka to finish the year as the world number one.
Wim Fissette, a Belgian coach, marks Swiatek's first coaching choice from outside Poland. His resume is distinguished, having most recently helped Naomi Osaka secure two of her four Grand Slam trophies. He also has experience coaching Angelique Kerber and other former world number ones, including Simona Halep and Victoria Azarenka.
Fissette shared his enthusiasm about joining Iga's team, describing her as a role model for other female athletes due to her relentless intensity and work ethic. He expressed his hope that their partnership will lead to mutual growth and help them achieve their professional goals.
In other news, Alex de Minaur is set to lead the Australian contingent in a high-profile warm-up event for the Australian Open, featuring seven of the world's top ten women. De Minaur is eager to compete, recalling the joy of breaking into the top 10 earlier this year and noting that representing his country is always a highlight for him.
The 25-year-old Australian highlighted the uniqueness of the United Cup, noting that its blend of singles and mixed doubles offers something special for both the players and the fans, making it a thrilling event to be involved in.
De Minaur praised the vibrant energy of the Australian team, emphasizing their strong mutual support and the vocal nature of their cheering section. He believes this supportive team environment is exactly what brings out the best in Australian athletes.
The competition kicks off on December 27 with six groups of three nations split between Perth and Sydney. Semi-finals will be held in both cities before the tournament concludes with the final in Sydney on January 5.