A New Chapter on Clay Begins this Week for Swiatek in Stuttgart

Iga Swiatek will kick off her clay-court season on Wednesday in Stuttgart, taking on the always tricky Laura Siegemund in a round-of-16 clash at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix.

The mood surrounding the two-time champion (2022, 2023) is markedly different from what it was a year ago—or even a few weeks back.

When Swiatek arrived in Stuttgart last spring, she was riding a wave of dominance on clay. She had won 24 of her previous 25 matches on the surface, capturing titles in Madrid, Rome and at Roland-Garros, where she claimed her third consecutive crown. In doing so, she had reeled off 21 straight wins in Paris, becoming the fourth woman in the Open Era to win at least four Roland-Garros titles—and the first to win three in a row since Justine Henin in 2007.

In short, she looked untouchable on clay.

But the tide turned in 2025. Swiatek fell in the Stuttgart quarterfinals and went on to miss out on defending her titles in Madrid, Rome and Roland-Garros.

Now, as she looks to rebuild that aura, Swiatek has made a bold move—turning to the Rafael Nadal Academy for her clay-court preparation. After parting ways with coach Wim Fissette, she brought in Francisco Roig, longtime member of Rafael Nadal’s coaching team.

Ahead of her fifth appearance in Stuttgart, Swiatek spoke about the decision and her early impressions.

“I’m really happy to start with Francis,” she said on Monday. “I was looking for someone with a good eye, very technical, but also experienced enough to guide me through different situations. I feel like Francisco has seen everything on tour.”

Swiatek, who has lost five of her last 16 clay-court matches—a sharp contrast to her 62-5 record on the surface from 2022 to 2024—admits the partnership is still in its early stages.

“We’re still getting to know each other. It all happened pretty quickly,” she said. “It’s a positive thing to find a coach fast, especially during the season. It gives you a sense of security, and I was already able to get some good practice in Mallorca.”

The decision to train at the Nadal Academy had been on her mind for some time.

“I wanted to go to Mallorca because I knew the facilities and the courts,” Swiatek said. “I knew I could do solid work there without distractions.”

And she even got a boost from the King of Clay himself.

“I asked if it would be possible for him to come and maybe give some feedback or just be an inspiration,” she said. “It was a privilege to have him on court. I didn’t expect much because I know how busy he is—but it meant a lot.”

As the clay season begins, Swiatek will be hoping a bit of that Nadal magic travels with her.