Full Breakdown
Iga Swiatek Advances at Italian Open While New Coach Francisco Roig Suffers Achilles Tear
5/9/2026, 11:32:53 PM
Swiatek Advances in Rome and Coach’s Achilles Injury
Polish world No. 1 Iga Swiatek beat American Caty McNally 6-1, 6-7 (5-7), 6-3 in the Italian Open first round, moving into the last 32. After a dominant start, Swiatek allowed three break points and saw the match stretch to three sets, later describing the heavy, slow conditions as a factor. The victory came hours after her newly hired coach Francisco Roig tore his Achilles tendon during a promotional half-court volley game in Rome’s Piazza del Popolo.
Coaching Change and Promotion
Swiatek appointed former Rafael Nadal and Emma Raducanu coach Francisco Roig in early May, ending a year-long partnership with Wim Fissette. The duo’s first public appearance was a light-hearted betting match—Swiatek wagered €100 on a volley contest—to promote the tournament. The incident highlights the immediate challenges a new player-coach relationship can face ahead of the French Open, where Swiatek seeks a fifth title.
Timeline of Key Events
- Early May 2026: Swiatek ends partnership with Wim Fissette.
- Early May 2026: Francisco Roig hired as head coach.
- Saturday, May 7: Promotional volley match; Roig tears Achilles.
- Tuesday, May 10: Roig undergoes surgery in Warsaw.
- Friday, May 8: Swiatek defeats McNally in three sets.
Match Details
The final score was 6-1, 6-7 (5-7), 6-3. Swiatek saved three break points in the second set and committed a higher number of unforced errors during that set, which allowed McNally to force a tiebreak. She won nine of twelve service games overall.
Official Statements
Swiatek said the team acted quickly to arrange Roig’s surgery and that they are ‘taking care of him.’ She noted that training without her coach is challenging but expressed confidence that they will adapt. Regarding the match, she described the first set as solid and admitted to making mistakes in the second set before refocusing in the decider.
Verbatim Quotes
- “He did a split step and tore his Achilles.” — Iga Swiatek, Player
- “Honestly, I want to watch this game and see if there's something that I did wrong,” — Iga Swiatek, Player
- “I was really happy with the first set, then I made some mistakes," said Swaitek.” — Iga Swiatek, Player
- “But for sure it’s not easy right now in the practices because he can’t be next to me,” — Iga Swiatek, Player
Upcoming Round and Implications
Swiatek will face either No. 28 seed Emma Navarro or Italian Elisabetta Cocciaretto in the round of 16. Roig’s injury raises questions about the continuity of coaching support as she prepares for the French Open, where their partnership will be tested under tournament pressure.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
All sources concur that Roig’s Achilles tear occurred on Saturday and that surgery was performed on Tuesday; no contradictory accounts were found. Details on his long-term recovery timeline and the extent of his on-court involvement remain unspecified.
