Coco Gauff’s former coach, Brad Gilbert, recently reacted to Iga Swiatek joining forces with Emma Raducanu’s former coach, Francisco Roig. Following her underwhelming performance at the 2026 Miami Open, the Pole announced she would be parting ways with coach Wim Fissette.
Days later, she was seen training with Rafael Nadal and Roig, who worked together for 17 years. After separating from Nadal’s coaching squad, Roig trained Raducanu from August last year to January this year. Although the partnership showed great potential at the beginning, Raducanu did not move past a single quarterfinal round except at the Hobart International.
Three months later, Roig shook hands with Swiatek, who has had a tough run in 2026 with a 12-6 record. On the “Big T” podcast, Gilbert showed his curiosity about Roig coaching the Polish star. Highlighting Swiatek’s elite movement, Gilbert suggested Roig might want to make a few amends to the 23-year-old’s game.
“Rafa wants her to maybe extend the points there is she can do that for that. I feel like with Emma, maybe she doesn’t feel like she can do that. You know she probably needs to add that to her game, but it will be interesting to see how he does it. We’re in a results business. So that’s the beautiful thing about coaching, and it’s not like if you get the results, you’re a genius. If not trouble in paradise,” Gilbert said (14:00 onwards).
Iga Swiatek Opens Up On the Struggles She Faced During the Miami Open
Iga Swiatek concluded her 2026 Miami Open run in the second round after World No. 50 Magda Linette beat her 6-1, 5-7, 6-3. Linette fired five aces, one more than the Pole, and won 90 points, compared to Swiatek’s 72. Following the faceoff, Swiatek agreed to facing mental setbacks, adding that the sport seems confusing for her at the moment.
“Tennis feels complicated in my head. I know it’s supposed to be simple. In terms of my mentality and how I feel on court, it’s going to take a while,” Swiatek said.
“It just was a bad match for me, unconsciously, or consciously, it’s hard for me to say. I need to work to get back from that, because I haven’t felt things like that for like five years. I’ll just get back to work, try to get something positive out of the practices, and try to figure it out,” Swiatek added.
Iga Swiatek will make her next appearance at the Stuttgart Open, which will commence on April 13.
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