Wim Fissette has begun dissecting Iga Swiatek’s game and where she can improve.
The Belgian is three weeks into coaching the five-time Grand Slam champion after she ended her three-year partnership with Tomasz Wiktorowski in October.
Before his appointment, the 23-year-old had not played since the US Open. Furthermore, Swiatek lost the World number one ranking to Aryna Sabalenka.
But the Pole is hoping to make new strides under Fissette, and he knows exactly what he wants the player to work on.
What does Wim Fissette think Iga Swiatek needs to start doing on faster surfaces?
Throughout her career Iga Swiatek has enjoyed plenty of success on clay in addition to attaining some success on hard courts.
But she has struggled to translate her form onto faster hard courts, such as the grass courts at the Wimbledon Championships, where she has failed to go beyond the fourth round.
This is something Wim Fissette wants to change in Swiatek’s game, and during an interview with Sky Sports, he described the mistake she has been making.
“For sure our goal is to do better on the faster services, if we can improve the serve a bit,” the 44-year-old said. “I think on the fast surfaces sometimes she is trying to play the game of the fast players instead of keeping to her own game and going a bit further back.
“A bit more behind the baseline and still trying to play her heavy spin balls because that’s where she is so difficult to play because she plays with so much spin and the ball bounces off your racket.
“I feel sometimes when it goes fast, she tries to play faster than her opponent which is not really her game, so she should stay true to herself on the faster surfaces.”
Wim Fissette explains what other shots Iga Swiatek can improve
Fissette’s first tournament as Swiatek’s coach was the season-ending WTA Finals.
She claimed two victories, but following Coco Gauff’s defeat to Barbora Krejčíková on the final round robin match, the Pole exited the tournament, despite thrashing Daria Kasatkina 6-1, 6-0 in her last group stage match.
Fissette has been impressed with what she has seen from Swiatek, but he mentioned three aspects of her game he would like her to work on.
“I have seen her play so much in the last few years and seen her practice with the intensity that every coach dreams of,” he said. “Her game is very good. She has been number one in the past years. But I still think there is a lot to improve.
“Her serve, it’s clear there is room for improvement but I also think the forehand can be heavier and faster and we can add elements of variation to her game.”
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