With the trophy tucked under one arm and a microphone held with the other, Swiatek’s first act as Wimbledon champion was hailing Fissette’s input.
Improving her inner belief by focusing on footwork and solidifying her serve was the key. But piecing everything together across a whole tournament proved to be more of an exception than the rule.
Swiatek, a natural introvert, plays her best when she has clarity and confidence, waiting for the opportunities to punish her opponents from the baseline.
Fissette trying to develop her style over the past 18 months has often led to Swiatek becoming increasingly stressed when things are not going her way.
Becoming flustered has led to wild fluctuations in her level and produced rash errors instead of her previously reliable groundstrokes.
After one of the most deflating defeats of her career in Miami, Swiatek talked about feeling “confused” on court and how the game had become “complicated” in her head.
She cut a forlorn figure when speaking to reporters – and her demeanour suggested a change in the coaching box would be coming.
The rest of her team – psychologist Daria Abramowicz, physio Maciej Ryszczuk and hitting partner Tomek Moczek – remain in place.
Some wonder whether Abramowicz – by Swiatek’s side at each of her Grand Slam wins – needs to be more accountable given the player’s problems arise from her on-court mentality.
Quickly making the move to dispense with Fissette allows the opportunity to reset, and probably get back to basics, before four-time French Open champion Swiatek attempts to regain her ‘Queen of Clay’ crown in the next phase of the season.
Ideally Swiatek wants a new coach in place when she returns to the tour at the Stuttgart Open, which starts on 13 April, and has opened talks with unnamed candidates.
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