Rafael Nadal coaching with Iga Swiatek has generated a hilarious response from the WTA locker room
Iga Swiatek has been working with Rafael Nadal after hiring Francisco Roig as her new coach (Picture: (Photograph by Clive Brunskill/Getty Photographs for ITF))
Jessica Pegula has jokingly said that Iga Swiatek shouldn’t be allowed to compete after clips emerged of her coaching with Rafael Nadal. Swiatek lately introduced her break up from Wim Fissette with Emma Raducanu’s former coach Francisco Roig changing him forward of the clay season kicking off.
That actually seems to be a intelligent resolution with Roig spending 17 years alongside Nadal, who was practically unstoppable on clay, and photographs have since emerged through Instagram that he was additionally providing tricks to Swiatek in a follow session. Unsurprisingly, that has change into a significant speaking level within the sport with Madison Keys, Desirae Krawczyk and Pegula all sharing their ideas.
On the most recent episode of the Participant’s Field Podcast, the latter mentioned: “I noticed that clip of (Iga and Rafa) on the clay, and I used to be like, Uhhhh… that is unhealthy for everyone,” Pegula joked. “This must be unlawful. This shouldn’t be allowed!” Keys added: “I used to be like, Oh god. The very last thing we would have liked Iga to have on the clay was Rafa… Scary.”
Krawczyk later said:“I’d be so nervous hitting in entrance of him.I imply, I’d be so excited, however I’d be like, ‘Oh my god, I can’t miss in entrance of Rafa!” The change from Swiatek comes after a gradual begin to the 2026 season with the 24-year-old failing to get past the quarter-finals on the Australian Open, Qatar Open and Indian Wells.
Nevertheless, she is not going to be in Germany later this month as a consequence of an harm suffered in Miami, as confirmed on social media. That seemingly opens the door for one among Swiatek, Rybakina, Pegula and Coco Gauff to safe a significant triumph.
Swiatek’s final huge victory got here at Wimbledon the place she didn’t lose a sport to Amanda Anisimova. She can be hoping to make it consecutive triumphs on the All England Membership in July with the Madrid and French Open as huge tournaments on the schedule earlier than then.
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