Iga Świątek fell short of her usual standards in the Madrid Open semifinals, suffering a 1-6, 1-6 defeat to Coco Gauff. It was the first time the Pole won two or fewer games in a match since her 0-6, 2-6 loss to Jelena Ostapenko in Birmingham in 2019.
Following the defeat, several fans later questioned Świątek’s partnership with her current coach, Wim Fissette.
Fans Question Iga Świątek’s Stint With Wim Fissette After Her Madrid Open Elimination
Gauff required minimal effort to secure a third consecutive win over the World No. 2 on the WTA Tour, wrapping up the match in just over an hour. Świątek won the match’s opening game but could not cope up with the American, who later won 11 games in a row.
Gauff did not face a break point and won 57 of her 83 points. A troubling aspect of Świątek’s semifinal performance was her 21 unforced errors, compared to just four from Gauff. She also produced just seven winners throughout the match.
Notably, Świątek has not advanced past the semifinals in any tournament since winning the French Open last year and is yet to win a title under the tutelage of Wim Fissette, who became her coach last October.
The World No. 2’s semifinal defeat garnered a wave of reactions from the fans, with many criticizing her partnership with her current coach.
“I think it’s safe to say, ATP, that the partnership between Wim Fissette and Iga Swiatek hasn’t gone in the planned direction. Should we expect a shakeup in Iga’s coaching team shortly?” a fan said.
I think it's safe to say, ATP, that the partnership between Wim Fissette and Iga Swiatek hasn't gone in the planned direction. Should we expect a shakeup in Iga's coaching team shortly?
— Àánúolúwapọ̀ (@VanAanog)
Fissette boasts an impressive coaching résumé, having worked with stars like Kim Clijsters, Victoria Azarenka, Simona Halep, Angelique Kerber, and Naomi Osaka. However, most of his partnerships have been short-lived, typically around two years with Clijsters and Osaka, and just a year with Halep and Kerber. In that regard, a fan claimed:
“Wim Fissette may have a great resume of winning Slams with multiple players, but he’s a difficult coach to keep because some players can’t seem to strike a good chemistry with him. A sign he’s difficult to work with.”
Wim Fissette may have a great resume of winning Slams with multiple players, but he's a difficult coach to keep because some players can't seem to strike a good chemistry with him. A sign he's difficult to work with.
— A m o u r (@Hiikamaaru_)
“I imagine Wim Fissette will be gone before Roland Garros,” another wrote.
I imagine Wim Fissette will be gone before Roland Garros.
— Casper (@casperhoyt)
“Please get some help, Iga, take a break from tennis. Wim Fissette needs to step away and Iga needs to get some help,’ one chimed in.
please get some help, Iga, take a break from tennis.
Wim Fissette needs to step away and Iga needs to get some help.— Monte Cristo (@cristo_monte)
A fan predicted Fisette might leave Świątek’s team soon, highlighting her struggles to win titles despite deep runs.
“Predicting Wim Fisette will be gone from Iga Swiatek’s camp at some point in the next two months. Perhaps after this clay court season if RG #4 doesn’t happen. This is the most vulnerable Iga has ever looked. Still good enough to reach QFs and SFs, but far from winning the titles,” a fan commented.
Predicting Wim Fisette will be gone from Iga Swiatek’s camp at some point in the next two months. Perhaps after this clay court season if RG #4 doesn’t happen. This is the most vulnerable Iga has ever looked. Still good enough to reach QFs and SFs, but far from winning the titles
— Vansh (@vanshv2k)
“She is 0-3 against Coco, 0-2 against Mirra ever since working with him 🤡. In the past, she only struggled against hard hitters, now she’s even vulnerable to players who are athletic or good at defense,” another fan said.
She is 0-3 against Coco, 0-2 against Mirra ever since working with him 🤡. In the past, she only struggled against hard hitters, now she's even vulnerable to players who are athletic or good at defense
— Tennis lover (@Igagaufflover)
“Since parting with Tomasz (her former coach) @iga_swiatek is loosing games with players with whom she always won in a very comfortable style. Time to reshuffle the team? @WTA,” a fan weighed in.
Since parting with Tomasz (her former coach) @iga_swiatek is loosing games with players with whom she always won in a very comfortable style. Time to reshuffle the team? @WTA
— Andrew W. (@ajw249)
A Look at Iga Swiatek’s Performances Under Wim Fissette
Świątek has lately played some great tennis but hasn’t been able to win a WTA title, especially during her stint with Fissette. The Pole has consistently exited in the quarterfinals or semifinals of several WTA events in 2025.
Her first tournament with Fissette was the WTA Finals in Riyadh last year, where she suffered a group stage exit despite winning two out of three matches. Świątek made a strong comeback at the 2025 Australian Open, reaching the semifinals before falling to Madison Keys in a thrilling encounter.
She followed that with a semifinal run at the Qatar Open, a quarterfinal finish at the Dubai Tennis Championships, another semifinal appearance at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, and a quarterfinal exit in Miami.
The Pole had a dominant run at the European clay-court swing last year, winning the WTA 1000 events in Madrid and Rome, and wrapping it up with a French Open triumph. However, she hasn’t been able to replicate that form this year on clay, facing a quarterfinal exit in Stuttgart and finishing as a semifinalist in Madrid.
It remains to be seen whether Świątek can end her title drought under Fissette as she heads into the Italian Open and the French Open later this month.
