Story perspectives

Swiatek Thrashes Snigur, Debuts Nadal-Inspired Serve

4/23/2026

Summary

Swiatek Beats Snigur

Poland’s Iga Swiatek (world No. 4) beat Ukraine’s Daria Snigur 6-1, 6-2 in the Madrid Open second round in Spain.
She hired former Nadal coach Francisco Roig, trained at Rafael Nadal’s Mallorca academy, and altered her service motion by bending the elbow more and resetting her hand position.
She lost to Mirra Andreeva in the Stuttgart quarter-finals but said she can always ask Rafael Nadal anything, finding his availability comforting.

Summary

Swiatek Refines Footwork

Swiatek ended her long-term partnership with coach Wim Fissette in April and hired Francisco Roig.
She acknowledged that she overthinks and takes too many steps, which creates off-balance shots.
Nadal and Roig observed the excess steps and introduced targeted footwork drills to curb them.
Swiatek aims for a “wall-like” baseline feel and longer rallies, a shift that has raised the standard for the women’s top-10.

Summary

Pegula Slams

Jessica Pegula, world No. 5, said on podcast the Swiatek-Nadal partnership is “bad for everyone… illegal.”
Madison Keys warned that Nadal’s involvement could tilt the competitive balance, noting Martín Landaluce of Rafa Nadal Academy in Manacor said Nadal’s advice is scarce.
Fernando Vicente, former coach of Andrey Rublev, said Nadal can help, progress is gradual, and noted Iga Swiatek has not won a title since Seoul in September 2025 nor reached quarter-finals.

Summary

Swiatek Exits

Iga Swiatek (player) opened Porsche Tennis Grand Prix with a win over Laura Siegemund (player) but exited quarterfinals, losing three sets to Mirra Andreeva (player).
Iga Swiatek (player) said practice helped her avoid rash decisions on rally shots and that mindset changes need patience to become automatic.
Iga Swiatek (player) noted Spanish-style coaching’s point-by-point fighting focus aids her clay preparation for a Madrid match versus Daria Kasatkina (player) or a qualifier.

History

Historical Context

In 2023, Iga Swiatek partnered with Francisco Roig, Rafael Nadal's former coach, marking a shift in women's tennis training. This collaboration emphasizes rigorous training methods, similar to those at the Rafa Nadal Academy, which has produced numerous champions. Competitors like Jessica Pegula express concerns that such changes could disrupt the competitive balance in women's tennis, potentially redefining coaching standards and athlete development.

1 of 5

Swiatek Beats Snigur

Poland’s Iga Swiatek (world No. 4) beat Ukraine’s Daria Snigur 6-1, 6-2 in the Madrid Open second round in Spain.
She hired former Nadal coach Francisco Roig, trained at Rafael Nadal’s Mallorca academy, and altered her service motion by bending the elbow more and resetting her hand position.
She lost to Mirra Andreeva in the Stuttgart quarter-finals but said she can always ask Rafael Nadal anything, finding his availability comforting.

1 / 5