Iga Swiatek’s coach claims he has noticed two ‘crucial’ changes in women’s tennis over the last 10 years

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Iga Swiatek’s coach, Wim Fissette, has seen it all during his WTA Tour career.

Teaming up with his fellow Belgian, Fissette guided Kim Clijsters to US Open glory in 2009 and 2010, before she won the Australian Open in 2011.

He then worked with several other WTA legends, including Simona Halep, Sabine Lisicki, Victoria Azarenka, and Petra Kvitova.

After Fissette helped Angelique Kerber win Wimbledon in 2018, he joined Naomi Osaka’s team, as she won her third and fourth Grand Slam titles.

Fissette now coaches Swiatek and helped her win at the All England Club for the first time in 2025, defeating Amanda Anisimova in the final.

Someone with as much experience as Fissette certainly knows what he’s talking about, as he now suggests the two biggest changes he’s noticed in women’s tennis over the last 10 years.

Wim Fissette says players serve bigger and are more physical than they were 10 years ago

Appearing as a guest on the ‘Inside-In Tennis Podcast’, Fissette shared his thoughts on how tennis has changed.

“Two crucial things for me,” he said.

“The serve, every player has a big first serve and a break really means a break, whereas 10 years ago that wasn’t really the case.

“It was only when you played Serena [Williams]!

Serena Williams finished 2015 ranked number one in the world, with a higher ‘Service Games won %’ than her rivals.

Fissette believes the serving quality has improved over the last decade, as has the physicality of the top players.

“Then the game has become so physical. Physical, in a way that, of course, the players hit bigger and with more spin, but also from defence, they are able to move more quickly on the counter attack, whereas 10 years ago you hit a big ball in the corner and the ball was coming back with slice or a loopy ball,” he said.

“Now the players are so strong and so fast from the corners. Those two things for me have changed the game completely.”

Fissette has worked hard to adapt to the modern game as he looks to guide Swiatek back to the world number one ranking…

How many weeks has Iga Swiatek spent as world number one?

The Polish star has spent 125 total weeks ranked number one in the world, which places her seventh in the all-time list.

• 1. Steffi Graf – 377 weeks
• 2. Martina Navratilova – 332 weeks
• 3. Serena Williams – 319 weeks
• 4. Chris Evert – 260 weeks
• 5. Martina Hingis – 209 weeks
• 6. Monica Seles – 178 weeks
• 7. Iga Swiatek – 125 weeks
• 8. Ashleigh Barty – 121 weeks
• 9. Justine Henin – 117 weeks
• 10. Lindsay Davenport – 98 weeks

She hasn’t been at the top of the rankings for over a year; however, as her rival Aryna Sabalenka continues to impress.

Over 1,500 points separate the pair, leaving Swiatek with a lot of work to do if she wants to reclaim the number-one ranking.

She will have one more chance to close the gap before the end of the year, at the WTA Finals in Saudi Arabia.

Swiatek played her first tournament with Fissette as her coach at the year-end finals last year, failing to reach the semifinals despite winning two of her three group stage games.

• 2024 WTA Finals GS – Iga Swiatek defeated Barbora Krejcikova, 4-6, 7-5, 6-2
• 2024 WTA Finals GS – Iga Swiatek lost to Coco Gauff, 6-3, 6-4
• 2024 WTA Finals GS – Iga Swiatek defeated Daria Kasatkina, 6-1, 6-0

She and Fissette will no doubt hope to make a deeper run this time around.

The 2025 WTA Finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, are scheduled to begin on Saturday, November 1.