Iga Świątek Hints at Potential Coaching Change, Focus on Off-Season Planning
NEW YORK – Following her US Open quarterfinal loss to Madison Keys, world No. 2 iga Świątek indicated a potential shift in her coaching setup and a dedicated focus on off-season training to address areas for improvement. While not confirming a definitive split with current coach Jakub Mirecki, Świątek’s comments strongly suggest a re-evaluation of her team as she looks ahead to the 2024 season.
The 22-year-old polish star’s remarks come at a pivotal moment, as she aims to regain the dominant form that saw her win the French Open in 2020 and 2022. This year’s US Open run,ending in a 6-3,6-1 defeat,highlighted areas where Świątek felt she lacked the necessary edge against top opponents. A change in coaching, or a bolstering of her support team, could be crucial in addressing these weaknesses and maintaining her position among the WTA’s elite. Świątek emphasized the need for a comprehensive off-season dedicated to physical and tactical refinement, signaling a proactive approach to securing future success.
“Right now, I just want to focus on the off-season and work on a few things,” Świątek stated after the match. “I feel like I need to reset and come back stronger.” She specifically mentioned a desire to improve her consistency and adaptability on faster hard courts, acknowledging that her game plan sometimes becomes predictable.
The potential coaching change follows a season of mixed results for Świątek. Despite reaching the finals of the WTA 1000 events in Doha and Stuttgart, and winning the Porsche Tennis Grand prix, she struggled to replicate her clay-court dominance on other surfaces. Her US Open performance marked her second consecutive Grand Slam quarterfinal exit, raising questions about her ability to consistently perform at the highest level throughout the year.
The image accompanying this report, captured during the US Open quarterfinal, shows Iga Świątek in action. The photo was taken by KENA BETANCUR / AFP for AFP.
