Kim Clijsters has publicly questioned Francisco Roig’s handling of his abrupt switch from coaching Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard to taking over as coach for world No 1 Iga Swiatek, calling the Spaniard’s conduct “disappointing” and “surprising.”
Roig, best known for his long-term role with Rafael Nadal’s coaching team, had only just started working with Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard at the beginning of March. This came after his split with Emma Raducanu following the Australian Open. Within a month, Roig left Perricard to join six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek.
The drama unfolded rapidly. Swiatek announced her split from former coach Wim Fissette on 23 March after a disappointing early exit at the Miami Open. Within days, reports began linking Roig to the reigning Wimbledon champion. The official announcement arrived on 2 April, confirming Roig as Swiatek’s new coach.
Perricard was left blindsided by the sudden change. In an interview with L’Equipe, he revealed he learned about Roig’s departure not from the coach himself, but through his agent. “It was my agent who informed me. He didn’t tell me directly. I trusted his word, what he could bring to the table,” Perricard said.
On the latest episode of ‘Love All,’ former world No 1 Kim Clijsters weighed in, expressing her understanding of Perricard’s disappointment. “It is tough for [Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard] and to me, a little bit surprising, to hear it happened like that,” Clijsters commented.
“There is a little bit of common sense and respect, even if it is hard news that you have to bring, to kind of just sit down, even if you’re in different parts of the world,” she added. “But yeah… It is what it is, the world keeps turning.”
Perricard acted quickly after being dropped by Roig, appointing Greg Rusedski as his new coach.
Meanwhile, Roig wasted no time integrating into Team Swiatek. He has already been seen working with both Iga Swiatek and Rafael Nadal at Nadal’s academy in Manacor. According to Clijsters, this presents an intriguing opportunity for the Polish star.
“We’ve seen some images of Iga training at Rafa’s academy, and the intensity is definitely there, even in the short little clips,” Clijsters remarked. She highlighted what a unique experience it must be for Swiatek: “But what an experience, to be able to be on court with Rafa, and to get to pick his brains, on one of the stages that for him was such a big part of his career.”
Clijsters also noted that Swiatek’s family had joined her during this period at Nadal’s base in Mallorca. This detail suggests she is balancing intense preparation with some downtime ahead of her next competitive run.
While some have welcomed Swiatek’s decision to pair up with Roig as a strategic move, particularly given his expertise with clay-court greats, the way he handled his split from Perricard has left a sour taste among observers in tennis circles.
Clijsters did not hide her disappointment at what she saw as a lack of direct communication and respect from Roig toward Perricard. For now, both parties have moved forward: Perricard with Rusedski in his corner, and Swiatek embarking on a new chapter under Roig’s guidance.
With eyes now turning toward how these new partnerships will impact upcoming tournaments, the handling of player-coach relationships remains under scrutiny both on and off the court.
