No. 1 Iga Swiatek splits with coach after three years

World No. 1 Iga Swiatek of Poland announced a split with coach Tomasz Wiktorowski on Friday after a three-year partnership.

Swiatek won four of her five Grand Slams, 19 of her 22 career titles and an Olympic bronze medal in Paris while working with Wiktorowski, who was voted WTA Coach of the Year by his peers in 2023.

"After 3 years of the greatest achievements in my career, together with my coach Tomasz Wiktorowski we decided to part way," Swiatek posted on Instagram. "I want to start with a big thank you and appreciating our work together."

Swiatek, 23, began working with Wiktorowski at the end of the 2021 season. Their time together also included her 37-match win streak in 2022, the longest streak of the 21st century.

"Coach Wiktorowski joined my team for three seasons, when I strongly needed changes and a fresh approach to my game," Swiatek wrote. "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.

"Our main goal was to become No. 1 player in the world and coach Wiktorowski was the one who said it first. We aimed very high, we headed to every tournament with a clear goal to win it. Together with coach Wiktorowski we won many tournaments and 4 Grand Slams."

Swiatek, who withdrew from this week's China Open, cited the change in her sports team as a reason to withdraw from next week's Wuhan Open.

"I'm really sorry for fans in China and those who wait to see me play, but I hope you understand that I need some time," she said.

Swiatek said the break with Wiktorowski was a mutual and amicable decision.

"Coach, THANK YOU, I wish you all the best," Swiatek wrote. "I know that you would like to rest after these 3 years of hard work and traveling a lot and spending some well-deserved time with your loved ones and I hope you'll get what you need."

--Field Level Media