Iga Świątek and Elena Rybakina will resume their rivalry in the quarterfinals of the 2026 Australian Open on Wednesday. Both players will be cheered on by coaches, other staff, and family members at the Rod Laver Arena.
Świątek and Rybakina have faced off in a number of grueling matches over the years, with the Pole holding a narrow head-to-head lead at 6-5. The World No. 5 came out on top the last time they met in three sets, snapping a four-match losing streak against Świątek en route to the WTA Finals title. And this latest battle should be another closely contested one.
Iga Świątek Box at 2026 Australian Open
Supporting Świątek at the 2026 Australian Open are her coach Wim Fissette, her long-time psychologist Daria Abramowicz, her physio Maciej Ryszczuk, and her agent Jules Mercier.
Fissette began coaching the Pole towards the end of the 2024 season and helped guide her to the 2025 Wimbledon title. The Belgian is a notable tennis coach who has previously worked with the likes of Kim Clijsters, Victoria Azarenka, Simona Halep and Naomi Osaka.
Abramowicz has long been a part of Świątek’s support staff, and the Pole has often credited her with helping her get over the line and come through difficult moments, such as her suspension after testing positive for a banned substance in 2024. She remains a key figure in the Pole’s team.
Ryszczuk is Świątek’s strength and conditioning coach and has been working with her since 2020, while Mercier (part of WME and IMG) is her agent.
Elena Rybakina’s Box at 2026 Australian Open
Rybakina will have her coach Stefano Vukov, her physiotherapist Stefan Duell, and her strength and conditioning coach Aldo Chiari in her box for her 2026 Australian Open quarterfinal match against Świątek.
Vukov has been Rybakina’s coach on and off since 2019. His coaching style has often drawn the attention of the tennis community. They initially parted ways after the 2024 US Open, and Rybakina hired Goran Ivanišević, only for Vukov to return to Rybakina’s staff in early 2025.
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Vukov was later suspended by the WTA for a reported breach of the tour’s code of conduct amid an investigation in 2025. He was then handed a 12-month ban from all WTA-sanctioned events. But that ban was later lifted in August 2025, allowing him to return to coaching on the tour. And Vukov is now back in Rybakina’s box as her coach.
