Iga Swiatek turns to familiar face for temporary WTA Finals coaching role
Iga Swiatek has reportedly turned to a familiar face to guide her through her WTA Finals title defence as her search for a permanent coach continues.
The 23-year-old confirmed last week that she had split from Tomasz Wiktorowski after a hugely successful three-year partnership.
Working under Wiktorowski, Swiatek won four of her five Grand Slam titles and has spent over 120 weeks as the world No 1.
However, Swiatek has failed to make the last four of a major outside of Roland Garros since 2022 and has decided to hire a new coach to help her make the “next step” in her career.
She said: “Coach Wiktorowski joined my team for three seasons, when I strongly needed changes and a fresh approach to my game.
“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.
“Due to this important change on my team, I give myself a couple of weeks to start a cooperation with a new coach.
“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. I will let you know when I make a decision.”
While she continues her search for a new permanent coach, Swiatek is reportedly working with Dawid Celt ahead of the WTA Finals in Riyadh – her final tournament of 2024.
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Celt is currently Poland’s Billie Jean King Cup captain, so is a figure the five-time Grand Slam champion knows well through her time competing in the famed team competition.
The 38-year-old worked with Wiktorowski in a partnership with Agnieszka Radwanska from 2011 until her retirement in 2018.
Celt has also been married to former world No 2 Radwanska – known to have a close relationship with Swiatek – since 2017.
Swiatek has not played since her US Open quarter-final defeat to Jessica Pegula and withdrew from the WTA 1000 events in Beijing and Wuhan to focus on her coach search.
The Pole has already qualified for the year-end championships and currently leads the WTA Race, though could be knocked off the top spot by Aryna Sabalenka this week.
Swiatek defeated Sabalenka in the semi-final of the WTA Finals in 2023, before dropping just one game to Pegula in the final.
The world No 1 is set to make a fourth straight appearance at the tournament and will hope to become the first player since Serena Williams in 2014 to successfully defend her title.
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