Rafael Nadal offers warm welcome to Iga Swiatek on her return to the academy after announcing new partnership with Francisco Roig

On the same day Iga Swiatek confirms the news that she has brought in Francisco Roig as her new coach, she has made a sentimental trip back to the Rafael Nadal Academy with 22-time Grand Slam champion himself.

The pair spent some time on court together, as well as Roig, who played an instrumental part in guiding Nadal to the success he achieved on court in his time in the spotlight. In total, he spent 17 years by the side of Nadal in a hugely glittering career, and will hope to do the same with Swiatek after a stint with British number one Emma Raducanu ended at the end of January 2026.

On social media, Nadal posted a picture with the former world number four. The caption read: “Welcome back to the Rafa Nadal Academy! Enjoy your time here! We hope you feel at home”. Swiatek responded on Instagram Stories: “Thanks for having us. So nice to be back!”

Swiatek has regularly named Nadal as one of her idols growing up. She has been able to replicate much of his success on clay, a surface Nadal was the king of for a long period of time. The Pole has won four Roland Garros titles and collected four WTA 1000 titles on clay.

Swiatek regularly made the trip to the academy years ago to practice and improve her overall game to what it is now. When she won the Madrid Open title in 2024 in a titanic clash against Aryna Sabalenka, the Spaniard was on her mind at times as she went on to win the tournament.

It is not looking likely on form that she would be able to repeat that success on current form. Wim Fissette has been given the boot after the poor form from last year has carried into 2026. Aside from a period where Swiatek won Wimbledon and the Cincinnati Open almost on the bounce, it has been overly disappointing for someone who is regularly described as one of the world's best.

Roig will be looking to guide her back to those dazzling heights. She is yet to even reach a semi-final on the WTA Tour this year aside from the United Cup triumph which also featured some hiccups enroute to triumph.

Her Sunshine swing, especially, was really disappointing. Her defeat in the opening stage of the Miami Open was a daunting result and something that showcases the predicament the six-time Grand Slam champion is currently in.

The hope is that the influence of Roig and some momentum on the court will get her back on track. No better place to start this than on clay. Her expertise on the surface has been showcased numerous times. She went on a 26-match unbeaten streak at the French Open before it was cut short last year in the semi-final to Aryna Sabalenka. She will want only one thing in Paris: the title. WTA 1000 tournaments in Madrid and Rome will come beforehand, but first is a trip to Germany in what is a very stacked field involving seven of the top 10 players in the world at the Stuttgart Open, lasting from April 13-19.