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Iga Swiatek is stepping up her training as she gets ready for her Madrid Open debut.
It was also her first tournament with new coach Francisco Roig, and the quarterfinal exit to Mirra Andreeva meant there wasn’t a deep run to build early momentum under his guidance.
Some of the familiar questions around Swiatek’s game popped up again. But she and Roig are still in the early stages of their partnership, and there’s time ahead of Roland Garros to iron things out.
As part of those preparations, Swiatek has decided to change things up before taking the court in Madrid. She’ll be heading into the tournament without playing any official matches in the lead-up.
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Iga Swiatek to train with Pablo Carreno Busta ahead of Madrid Open debut
Swiatek is set to face qualifier Daria Snigur in her opening match, after the Ukrainian came back from four match points down to defeat Daria Kasatkina.
While it’s not unusual for women’s players to work with male hitting partners, it’s less common for WTA players to train alongside active ATP pros.
Still, Swiatek is scheduled to practice on the main Manolo Santana court alongside former top 10 player Pablo Carreno Busta.
Carreno Busta, currently ranked 94th in the world, needed a wildcard entry into his home tournament this year.
The Spaniard will begin his campaign against Marton Fucsovics in the opening round.
How Iga Swiatek has performed at the Madrid Open in previous years
Even though her recent results haven’t been great, there’s plenty of reason for Swiatek to feel confident about her chances in Madrid.
She’s a former champion here, having beaten Aryna Sabalenka in a 2024 final that was voted the best match of that WTA season.
The six-time Grand Slam winner also made it to the semifinals last year, though she was heavily beaten by Coco Gauff, winning just two games in that match.
This time around, she’ll be hoping for another deep run. But with Sabalenka, Elina Svitolina and Andreeva all in her half of the draw, it won’t be easy.
First up is Snigur – an opponent she hasn’t faced before and one who’ll come into the match with plenty of confidence after her opening win over Kasatkina.
Read more:
- Rest, reset, return: Why Emma Raducanu might be best off skipping the clay season
- Stuttgart Open glory propels Elena Rybakina into same stratosphere as Venus Williams and Iga Swiatek
- From centre court to sidelines: Emma Raducanu scratched from Madrid Open
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