Coach's Injury Adds to Swiatek's Woes in Rome

Iga Swiatek's coach, Francisco Roig, is dealing with a significant injury, having ruptured his Achilles tendon during a practice session in Rome earlier this month. He was observed with a cast on his right leg shortly before Swiatek's Italian Open campaign began. This setback follows a difficult period for the tennis star, who recently withdrew from the Madrid Open due to a viral illness. Roig, who previously coached Rafael Nadal, joined Swiatek's team last month. Their partnership has seen a quarter-final exit in Stuttgart and the aforementioned withdrawal in Madrid. The Italian Open represents their third tournament together.

Swiatek has candidly discussed her struggles with perfectionism throughout the current season. She noted that unlike previous years where her focus was on major events like the Olympics, this year has been marked by internal battles with achieving flawless play. She aims to be more disciplined and make sound choices on the court.

Her goal in Rome is to surpass the quarter-final stage, a barrier she has faced in her last three tournaments. Her previous loss in Miami ended a remarkable 73-match first-round winning streak. Swiatek is hopeful that a strong performance and a potential fourth Italian Open title could help her regain her peak form.