Iga Swiatek Gives Fitness Update Ahead of Italian Open After ‘Sh**ty” Madrid Run

Iga Swiatek will be hoping to end her title drought at the Italian Open, where she is a three-time champion. Before Rome, Swiatek played at the Madrid Open to chase her second title in the tournament, but an illness forced her to give a walkover to Ann Li in the third round.

Swiatek, who left the court in tears, was not the only player affected by a stomach virus and forced to withdraw. Even Coco Gauff vomited on the court, had her vitals checked while playing against Sorana Cirstea, and later lost her fourth-round match to Linda Noskova. In her pre-tournament press conference in Rome, Swiatek shared an update on her health.

Yeah, my Madrid tournament was tough. It was really, like, sh**ty, literally (laughter). So yeah, I was completely off, like, day before the match. The day I played also I was not good, like no energy at all. Honestly, day after it was a bit better, but still I don’t think I would be able to play normal. But in two days, I was already fine. I recovered.

Swiatek tasted success in Rome for the first time in 2021 against Karolina Pliskova and defended her crown by defeating Ons Jabeur. After failing to complete a three-peat in 2023, she beat World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka to win her third title.

I had some time to stay there and not really travel because I don’t think it’s safe to travel when you’re so, like, fragile. Then I came here, and I was able to practice fully from the beginning 100%. Quickly, I was back. It was really unfortunate timing. Honestly, yeah, many players got sick, so I don’t think there was anything we could do to avoid it.

Iga Swiatek added

Last year in Rome, Danielle Collins knocked her out in the third round. Swiatek will be hoping to reach a semifinal for the first time this season. Except for the Miami Open and the Madrid Open, Swiatek exited from tournaments after reaching the quarterfinals.

Iga Swiatek on her partnership with Francisco Roig

In Miami, Iga Swiatek suffered a shock opening-round exit, losing to countrywoman Magda Linette. This saw her end the coaching partnership with Wim Fissette, who guided her to the 2025 Wimbledon title, also her first success in a grass-court tournament.

Swiatek next headed to Mallorca and trained under the watchful eyes of her idol, Rafael Nadal, and his former coach, Francisco Roig. The six-time Grand Slam champion announced that Roig would be her next coach. In the pre-tournament press conference in Rome, Swiatek was asked about her partnership with Roig.

I feel we understand each other very well. I think we have the same vision of how I should play. He’s helping me to achieve that. I have been trying some different options on practices, which is great, because I wasn’t exactly comfortable with how I played couple months back.

Before joining Swiatek’s team, Roig worked with Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard and left his team without informing him. Perricard later hired Greg Rusedski.

Swiatek hasn’t yet won a title since last year’s Korea Open. The 24-year-old clinched three titles from four finals last year, including two Big Titles (Wimbledon and the Cincinnati Open). Before her disappointing exit in Madrid, Swiatek lost to Mirra Andreeva in the quarterfinals of the Stuttgart Open, where she won titles twice.

In her opening round in Rome, Swiatek will lock horns with Daria Kasatkina or Caty McNally. She could meet Emma Navarro in the second round and four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka in the fourth round.

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