Swiatek explains why she chose Francis Roig and how training with Nadal went

Pedro de Pablos | 20 Apr 2026 | 16.59

Swiatek explains why she chose Francis Roig and what it was like training with Nadal

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Iga Swiatek is one of the top favorites to win the Mutua Madrid Open 2026. Despite not starting the year in the best way, the Polish tennis player knows that the clay court season is her strong point. In the press conference before her debut in the Spanish capital, Swiatek talked about the addition of Francis Roig as her new coach and the support she has received from Rafa Nadal to prepare for these tournaments.

Following poor results in recent months, the Polish tennis player decided to part ways with Wim Fissette and bring in Francis Roig to be part of her team. The former coach of Rafael Nadal agreed to the deal, and Swiatek traveled to Manacor to train for 10 days with them and have the initial contact, which she has analyzed in detail today. A partnership that could bring a lot of success for one of the best players on the WTA circuit.

Full press conference with Iga Swiatek before her debut at the Mutua Madrid Open 2026

Expectations for Madrid

That is always the hardest question because in tennis you can't expect anything except being very focused on the work and playing match by match. I am focused on my first match now. Actually, not the match, but the practices and adapting to the conditions. I just want to use the time correctly and then in tennis, be able to do everything we have practiced with Francis.

Why she chose Francis Roig

It is always a process of difficult decisions because, obviously, you talk to a coach, but until you are by their side and see how the coach sees it and how they react to things, it's hard to judge whether it's the right step or not. We met in Mallorca, and I had the opportunity to practice with him for 10 days before my first match in Stuttgart. I thought it was great. He has a good eye and quickly knows what the player needs. He also knew exactly what I had done wrong and what we needed to improve. So we had the same opinions.

The other thing is starting to work well in tennis, which is always a process. It's not something that happens in a week or a month. You have to change some things in your mind to make them automatic. I am trying to be patient and work hard every day, but I don't expect to suddenly be perfect. But the idea is there, and the process has started, so I am very happy and motivated to work.

Training with Nadal in Manacor

It was incredible. He was there during the first two days of my stop, and it was very inspiring. It was a great honor and privilege that he was there. I didn't expect he would say yes because he is very busy. I think he is busier than when he plays tennis on tour. We talked a lot about his experiences, what he had to work on, how he had to adjust. He also gave me calm because after my recent games, I should focus on the long term, which is the next tournament.

Does pressure affect her game?

No, it doesn't affect my match because over the years I have learned not to read much and to ignore the messages that come on Instagram or some hateful comments. You need your own strategy to deal with it, but it's not a good and positive thing in today's sports. I feel more and more unlucky about it, but it's part of the job to be ready for it and learn to ignore it. I wouldn't say it affects my game, but it's not a good experience.

How to handle that pressure

It's not easy, especially with so much intensity because we play for 11 months, and sometimes it's hard to find your own balance and understand that you won't feel good in every tournament. The pressure is high. Especially when you want something in the past, people expect more and more and don't leave us alone in our process. They are judging and watching every step we take. It also depends on the player's position. But it's not easy; it's one of the hardest sports. You have to take care of yourself and be open to accepting that it won't always be perfect. You also have to talk to some specialists and take care of yourself. That's the most important thing.

What to do in Madrid beyond tennis

I always do a bit of shopping, but not in the big stores, in the local shops in Madrid. And good food, octopus, prawns, croquettes, but not too fatty, obviously, so I need to balance that. Good coffee. In fact, my friends came this year, so I will also spend some time visiting with them. It's always fun here, so there is a lot to do.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Swiatek explica por qué eligió a Francis Roig y cómo fue entrenar con Nadal