"Iga Swiatek needs to be far from that personality" - Serena Williams' ex-coach shares feelings about Pole moving on after Tomasz Wiktorowski split

Serena Williams' former coach Rennae Stubbs highlighted the need for Iga Swiatek to be away from her former coach Tomasz Wiktorowski because of his uptight personality. Swiatek had a mixed 2024 season and will soon take the court at the 2025 Australian Open.

Stubbs, serving as an ESPN commentator, was previously an analyst at Seven Network from 2011 to 2018. Now the host of the popular "Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast", the 53-year-old often invites former tennis icons.

On December 23, 2024, she talked about Iga Swiatek's coaching change and noted that Wiktorowski's absence would benefit her since they both share uptight personalities, via her eponymous podcast:

"New coach, new perspective, definitely a lot different personality to Tomsz Wiktorowski, who's a little demure and a little dour on his good days. The man who never smiles. The man who never smiles. And I think that, you know, Eger doesn't, I think Iga needs to be far from that personality because she's already pretty uptight and, you know, a pretty quiet person in and of itself. And she needs someone around her that's going to make this sport fun."

Swiatek took to her Instagram handle on October 17 to announce Wim Fissette as her new head coach.

"So, I have news for you today as I’m excited and motivated to start a new chapter. I’m happy to announce that Wim Fissette is joining our team."

Swiatek kicked off 2024 with the MVP award at the United Cup, followed by a third-round exit from the Australian Open. After a couple of WTA Tour and ATP Tour victories, she advanced to the French Open finals, where she defeated Jasmine Paolini to take her fifth Grand Slam title and her fourth Roland Garros.

Iga Swiatek on coach Tomasz Wiktorowski - "He's always so motivating"

Iga Swiatek at Billie Jean King Cup Finals - Poland v Italy: Semi-Final - (Source: Getty)

Hailing from Poland, Iga Swiatek didn't have the confidence of an American tennis player. In the Players Tribune, she shared how being the World No.1 or winning an Olympic medal was never in her thoughts. Even when her then-coach Tomasz Wiktorowski stated that she would be World No. 1 within a year, it was hard to believe.

"When we started working together at the end of 2021, my coach Tomasz said that the goal was to be #1 within a year. I was like, Yeah okay, sure. He’s always so motivating, but I felt like that was just movie coach talk, you know? Like Ted Lasso — ha ha. Many things have to happen to win a Slam, so I didn’t really feel like it was all in my hands."

In 2022, Iga Swiatek reached the semifinals at the Adelaide International and the Australian Open before winning the following six tournaments, including the French Open. The Pole reached the World No.1 in the singles ranking, becoming the youngest woman to accomplish a Sunshine Double.