Iga Swiatek expected to add Nadal’s former coach Roig after Mpetshi Perricard Split

Iga Swiatek is expected to reinforce her coaching team with the addition of Francisco Roig, following the Spaniard’s departure from Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard’s camp. The move comes as part of a broader reshuffle across both tours, with Roig switching from the ATP Tour to a leading role within the WTA.

Roig, a long-time member of Rafael Nadal’s coaching team, had only recently begun working with Mpetshi Perricard during the Sunshine Double. Their collaboration, which started at Indian Wells in early March, lasted less than a month and covered just two tournaments before coming to an end.

The change follows Swiatek’s decision to part ways with Wim Fissette shortly after her early exit at the Miami Open. The Pole, who had won Wimbledon in 2025 under Fissette, has since dropped from world No. 3 to No. 4, reflecting a more competitive landscape at the top of the rankings.

While no official announcement has been made, L'Equipe indicated that Roig is expected to join Swiatek’s team ahead of the clay-court season, marking a targeted adjustment as she prepares for a key stretch of the calendar.

The partnership between Roig and Mpetshi Perricard was formed after the Frenchman ended his four-year collaboration with Emmanuel Planque in early February. Seeking a new direction, the world No. 57 brought in the experienced Spaniard ahead of Indian Wells, aiming to benefit from his background at the highest level of the sport.

However, the collaboration proved short-lived. Mpetshi Perricard recorded back-to-back defeats across Indian Wells and Miami, and within weeks, Roig’s exit was confirmed as his expected move to Swiatek’s team emerged.

The French player will now return to working with Philippe Dehaes, who had previously stepped in on an interim basis between coaching arrangements. This time, the partnership is not expected to be temporary, offering greater stability as Mpetshi Perricard prepares for the upcoming clay swing.

Swiatek’s decision to separate from Wim Fissette followed a period of results below her usual standards. Despite a successful 2025 season, highlighted by her Wimbledon title, her early 2026 campaign has been less consistent, including a defeat to Maria Sakkari in Doha and an early exit at the Miami Open.

Her ranking shift from No. 3 to No. 4 further reflects the increased competition at the top of the WTA Tour, where Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina and Coco Gauff currently occupy the leading positions.

The expected arrival of Roig represents a stylistic fit with Swiatek’s strengths, particularly on clay, where she has built much of her success, including four Roland Garros titles.

Roig’s move to Swiatek follows a sequence of short-term coaching roles across both tours. After a long tenure as part of Rafael Nadal’s team, he joined Emma Raducanu in mid-2025, with that collaboration lasting approximately six months before ending in January.

He then transitioned to the ATP Tour, linking up with Mpetshi Perricard for the Sunshine Double. That partnership lasted less than four weeks, underlining the fluid nature of coaching arrangements at the top level of the sport.

For Swiatek, the addition of Roig represents a focused adjustment rather than a structural overhaul, aimed at regaining consistency ahead of a crucial clay-court period that includes Stuttgart, Madrid, Rome and Roland Garros.