Iga Swiatek Reveals Disastrous $117 Bet That Left Coach Francisco Roig with Torn Achilles

Iga Swiatek won her opening round match in Rome.

Iga Swiatek Reveals Disastrous $117 Bet That Left Coach Francisco Roig with Torn Achilles

Iga Swiatek (Image via People.com)

In Short
  • Francisco Roig, Iga Swiatek's new coach, suffered a torn Achilles tendon during a practice session, requiring immediate surgery.
  • The injury occurred after a lighthearted practice wager of $117 between Swiatek and Roig during a half-court drill.
  • Despite the injury, Roig returned to support Swiatek in her opening match at the Italian Open, where she aims for her fourth title.

Iga Swiatek is navigating a bizarre medical emergency inside her own camp. Her new coach, Francisco Roig, suffered a complete tear of the Achilles tendon during a pre-tournament practice session in Rome, requiring immediate surgery and forcing him to navigate the clay-court swing on crutches.

The freak injury adds a layer of unexpected chaos to what has already been a turbulent spring for the World No. 3. Swiatek just brought the veteran Spanish coach on board a few weeks ago to stabilize her form and refine her baseline aggression for the European clay season. Now, as she pursues a fourth career title at the Foro Italico, her primary tactical voice is operating out of a heavy leg cast.

The injury stemmed from a lighthearted practice wager, according to Swiatek’s press conference. Speaking to the media following her campaign-opening victory against Caty McNally, the Polish star detailed exactly how a friendly game of half-court singles resulted in a devastating physical setback for her corner.

Yeah, basically I had 5-4 and the match point already. He did a split step and tore his Achilles. It happened on Saturday. On Tuesday he had surgery already in Warsaw. We kind of took care of him. Yeah, he really wanted to be back, not to take time off. I really appreciate that he’s here because for sure it’s not easy for him. We’re trying to take care of him. We also kind of wanted to show the team effort, you know? Yeah, I broke my coach’s Achilles.

It happened on Saturday on the courts at Piazza del Popolo. Swiatek and Roig set up a live practice drill, putting 100 Euros, roughly $117, on the line. Knowing Roig’s prowess at the net, Swiatek requested they play on a restricted half-court to force the former Rafael Nadal mentor to cover more ground. The competitive drill reached its climax when Swiatek held match point at 5-4.

As Swiatek prepared to close out the bet, Roig executed a routine split step. The sudden movement caused his Achilles tendon to snap, halting the session instantly. The coach was forced to fly to Warsaw, where he underwent surgery on Tuesday. Despite the severe injury and quick turnaround, Roig rushed back to the Italian capital to be in Swiatek’s box for her opening match.

A turbulent lead-up to the Italian Open

For Iga Swiatek, the sideline drama in Rome is just the latest chapter in a highly unusual stretch of her 2026 campaign. The six-time Grand Slam champion entered the European clay swing looking for answers after her early-season momentum collapsed in Miami.

Iga Swiatek
Iga Swiatek (via Punto de Break)

During that hard-court event, Swiatek suffered a stunning defeat to fellow Polish player Magda Linette. After winning the opening set convincingly, Swiatek’s game unraveled. The loss did more than send her packing from Miami; it officially snapped her historic 73-match first-round winning streak. In the aftermath of that early exit, Swiatek admitted to the media that “tennis feels complicated in my head.”

Seeking a reset, Swiatek made a swift change to her technical staff. She parted ways with coach Wim Fissette in late March and, by mid-April, pivoted to Roig. The move was heavily scrutinized in tennis circles, largely due to how quickly it unfolded. Roig abruptly left his previous role with French player Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, a departure Perricard claimed he only found out about through his agent.

Determined to simplify her tactical approach, Swiatek spent a training block at the Nadal Academy in Mallorca, where Rafael Nadal himself briefly joined her on the court to assist with the transition. Swiatek praised the early results of the partnership with Roig, noting that their shared vision for her clay-court game felt more natural, solid, and disciplined.

Fighting through illness and early exits

Even with a revamped coaching staff, the transition back to the dirt has not been seamless. Swiatek’s first tournament under Roig’s guidance ended in a quarterfinal exit at the hands of 19-year-old Russian Mirra Andreeva in Stuttgart.

Iga Swiatek
Iga Swiatek (Image via X/iga archive)

Her subsequent appearance in Madrid proved even more difficult. Battling a severe stomach infection, Swiatek struggled physically against Ann Li. Down 0-3 in the deciding third set, a visibly unwell Swiatek was forced to retire from the match, leaving the Madrid courts in tears after having her vitals checked by tournament medics. She arrived in Rome carrying a pedestrian 2-2 record across her previous two events, seeking a spark at a venue where she historically dominates.

Despite the turbulent build-up and her coach’s physical limitations on the sidelines, Swiatek is off to a clean start in Rome. Her opening victory over McNally keeps her in the hunt for a fourth Internazionali BNL d’Italia title, adding to the trophies she lifted here in 2021, 2022, and 2024.

Next up, the fourth seed will face the winner of the Emma Navarro vs. Elisabetta Cocciaretto clash. A deep run in Rome would set up a potential quarterfinal showdown against Jessica Pegula, who is looking to defend her own recent clay-court success from Charleston. For Swiatek, navigating the high-bouncing Italian clay with a hobbled coach in her corner will be the ultimate test of the new discipline she hopes to bring to the rest of her season.

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