Madison Keys and Jessica Pegula React to Iga Swiatek’s Training Session with Rafael Nadal: “This Should Be Illegal”

Iga Swiatek fired Wim Fissette and hired Rafael Nadal's former coach, Francisco Roig.

Madison Keys and Jessica Pegula React to Iga Swiatek’s Training Session with Rafael Nadal: “This Should Be Illegal”

Jessica Pegula, Iga Swiatek, Rafael Nadal, Madison Keys (Image via X/Tiempo De Tenis, Rafael Nadal)

In Short
  • Madison Keys and Jessica Pegula expressed concern over Iga Swiatek's training with Rafael Nadal, calling it detrimental for their competition.
  • Swiatek has added Francisco Roig to her coaching team, who previously worked with Nadal for 18 years.
  • Danielle Collins warned that Swiatek's new partnership with Roig could be "scary for everybody" in the WTA.

The last thing that WTA rivals wanted was to see Iga Swiatek train alongside her idol, Rafael Nadal, joked Madison Keys. Since it became known that Swiatek headed to Mallorca to practice at the Rafa Nadal Academy and clips of her training with the legend himself emerged online, her rivals started receiving warnings that they absolutely need to be wary of the Pole now.

Not just her training with the 22-time Grand Slam champion before the clay swing, Swiatek also added Francisco Roig to her coaching team. Roig worked with the 14-time Roland Garros champion for 18 seasons (2005-2022).

Danielle Collins warned that Swiatek’s partnership with Roig will be “scary for everybody“. Her countrywomen, Keys and Jessica Pegula, also share similar opinions. During the latest episode of The Player’s Box Podcast, Pegula joked that Swiatek’s practice session with Nadal is bad for everyone.

I feel like that’s perfect for Iga, though. I saw the clip of them on the clay, I was like, ughhh, this is bad for everybody! This should be illegal.

Swiatek grew up watching and idolizing Nadal, and on clay, like him, she has become the most dominant force on the WTA Tour at present, having won four Roland Garros titles already. She also completed a historic three-peat in the tournament (2022-2024). Last year, she failed to reach a clay-court final.

Keys, who trails 2-6 in the head-to-head matchups against Swiatek, gave her reaction to the former WTA World No.1’s training session with the former ATP World No.1 on the aforementioned podcast:

I was like, Oh God. The last thing we needed Iga to have on the clay was Rafa!

Madison Keys said

It was Keys who stopped Swiatek from progressing to the 2025 Australian Open final before she defeated Aryna Sabalenka to win her first Grand Slam title. But Swiatek took her revenge the next two times they faced each other. Against World No.5, Swiatek holds a 6-5 head-to-head edge.

Greg Rusedski gives his take on Iga Swiatek’s new coaching partnership

Before hiring Francisco Roig, Iga Swiatek worked with Wim Fissette. The partnership produced mixed results because Swiatek struggled throughout the start of the 2025 season before ending her trophy drought at Wimbledon.

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

The start of the 2026 season was not far cry from that of the last season because Swiatek lost her four singles tournaments without reaching the semifinals. She announced her split with the Belgian coach after her shock opening-round exit in Miami. Reacting to Swiatek’s decision to hire Roig, former British No.1 Greg Rusedski said on his Off Court with Greg podcast:

I know Wim Fissette very well — great coach. Worked with Jo [Johanna] Konta, worked with Naomi Osaka. So he knows what he’s doing out there. He’s had some great runs with the players. But obviously, since winning Wimbledon, they haven’t had the results they would like. I’m sure Wim will be back on tour soon, because he’s one of the best in the business.

Roig had a brief partnership with Emma Raducanu. Before joining Swiatek’s entourage, the Spanish coach worked with Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, who criticized the 58-year-old for leaving his side to join Swiatek’s team without even informing him.

But it’s also getting that mentality. Sometimes, Swiatek looks a bit too intense. She’s got to learn how to go off court and relax, and then bring the intensity on court. I’m sure she’ll get the balance right, but this clay-court season coming up is huge because she was supposed to be the new Rafa in the women’s game; just dominating clay every year, winning Roland Garros.

Greg Rusedski added

Swiatek will next be competing at the Stuttgart Open to bid for her second title in the tournament. Last year in the event, she lost in the quarterfinals.

Also read: Alexander Bublik Reveals the Only Condition to Catch Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz