Top-ranked Iga Swiatek, the Polish tennis sensation, has parted ways with her long-time coach, Tomasz Wiktorowski. The decision, announced by Swiatek on Friday, marks the end of a successful three-year partnership that saw the Polish player ascend to the pinnacle of women’s tennis.
During their time together, Swiatek captured four of her five Grand Slam titles, including the French Open in 2020, 2022, and 2023, and the US Open in 2022. She also rose to the top of the WTA rankings, becoming the first Polish player to achieve the feat.
Swiatek expressed her gratitude for Wiktorowski’s contributions in a heartfelt Instagram post. “After 3 years of the greatest achievements in my career, together with my coach Tomasz Wiktorowski we decided to part way,” she wrote. “I want to start with a big thank you and appreciating our work together.”
Swiatek credited Wiktorowski with providing her with the guidance and support she needed to reach new heights. “Coach Wiktorowski joined my team for three seasons, when I strongly needed changes and a fresh approach to my game,” she said. “His experience, analytical and strategic attitude and enormous knowledge about tennis helped us to achieve things I’ve never dreamed of only a few months after we started working together.”
The decision to split comes after a challenging period for Swiatek. She has not competed since losing to Jessica Pegula in the quarterfinals of the US Open and has withdrawn from recent tournaments due to personal reasons and fatigue.
Swiatek indicated that she is ready to take the next step in her career and is in talks with non-Polish coaches. “I’m in the middle of first talks with coaches from abroad (non-Polish) because I’m ready to take the next step of my career,” she wrote.
Wiktorowski, who was voted the WTA’s Coach of the Year by his peers last year, expressed his support for Swiatek’s decision. “Coach, THANK YOU, I wish you all the best,” Swiatek wrote. “I know that you would like to rest after these 3 years of hard work and traveling a lot and spending some well deserved time with your loved ones and I hope you’ll get what you need.”
The split between Swiatek and Wiktorowski marks the end of a successful era in Polish tennis. Swiatek’s dominance on the court has inspired a new generation of players and has brought unprecedented attention to the sport in her home country.
