Introduction
In splendid fashion, Iga Swiatek captured the Wimbledon 2025 title with a resounding double bagel over Amanda Anisimova. Some, like Germany’s Andrea Petkovic, may have seen it coming — but let’s agree that 99% of the tennis world did not. One thing is certain, however: her new coach, Wim Fissette, implemented subtle but decisive changes, and Swiatek embraced them fully. A semifinal at Roland Garros and the trophy at the All England Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club may have felt unexpected to many, but perhaps they shouldn’t have been. In nearly every tournament she entered — Rome being the notable exception — Poland’s superhero went deep.
It’s clear that this partnership is thriving. We don’t say this lightly, but Belgium’s Fissette has a rare eye for detail on the WTA Tour. It’s time to highlight the man behind the scenes.
Hailing from the same Limburg province as Kim Clijsters, it seemed almost inevitable that Fissette would first cut his teeth with her. While ultimate success still depends on the player on court, it’s impossible to ignore the fact that the 1980-born Fissette delivered. Describing himself as an analytical tennis coach, he and Clijsters amassed an impressive haul of WTA titles and three Grand Slam crowns during their collaboration.
Wim Fissette: The Coach Behind the Champions
From Kim Clijsters to Iga Swiatek, Belgian super-coach Wim Fissette has helped guide some of the biggest stars to Grand Slam glory. Here’s his coaching journey and the titles his players earned under his guidance:
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2009–2011: Kim Clijsters 🇧🇪
2× US Open (2009, 2010), 1× Australian Open (2011), 1× WTA Finals (2010) -
2011: Irina Khromacheva 🇷🇺
Guided junior talent to top ITF rankings -
2013: Sabine Lisicki 🇩🇪
Wimbledon finalist (2013) -
2014: Simona Halep 🇷🇴
French Open finalist (2014) -
2015–2016 & 2018–2020: Victoria Azarenka 🇧🇾
US Open finalist (2020), several WTA titles -
2016: Petra Kvitová 🇨🇿
WTA Tour titles, Wimbledon quarterfinal -
2016: Sara Errani 🇮🇹
Top 20 finishes & WTA doubles success -
2016–2017: Johanna Konta 🇬🇧
Australian Open semi-finalist (2016), Miami Open champion (2017) -
2017–2018: Angelique Kerber 🇩🇪
Wimbledon champion (2018) -
2020–2022 & 2023–2024: Naomi Osaka 🇯🇵
US Open (2020), Australian Open (2021), World No.1 -
2023: Qinwen Zheng 🇨🇳
Breakthrough into WTA Top 10 -
2025–present: Iga Swiatek 🇵🇱
Wimbledon champion (2025)
His résumé reads like a Who’s Who of women’s tennis: Kim Clijsters, Simona Halep, Angelique Kerber, Naomi Osaka, and now Iga Swiatek. He has described himself as an “analytical tennis coach,” and the results speak volumes — Grand Slam champions, breakthrough seasons, and a reputation for transforming talent into champions.
Key quotes from Fissette on Swiatek during Roland Garros
“She has played well for three matches in a row now. Jacqueline Cristian played .. with nothing to lose. The second set was very tight, but I’m happy that Iga was tested — and that she passed the test.”
“After the Australian Open, the expectations and the pressure increased, and her results went up and down — some very good matches, some less so.”
“Every day she shows up in practice 100% motivated, fully recharged and ready to give her all in training. That’s what makes working with her so rewarding.”
“The most important thing now is to focus on her strengths, which she sometimes forgets. She has this incredibly heavy topspin forehand — which is rare in the women’s game — and she needs to use that weapon even more in matches.”
“She’s fourth in points so far this season — so it’s far from a disastrous first half of the year.”
“Iga has a good body language on court. She is playing with more and more confidence. The next round against Rybakina will be a very tough test — she has struggled against her before.”
Key Quotes from Wim Fissette in The Guardian
Read the full original article by Simon Cambers here
“Those two tournaments [Madrid and Rome] were definitely difficult for her,” Fissette reflected. “Probably just very high expectations and then it was just getting too much. But even in Paris she was already much calmer. I felt after Rome there was a good switch and more focus on, let’s say, developing as a player. We tried to improve a few things and she was really focusing on that more than about just winning, winning, winning. That helped her also to stay a bit more calm.”
On his tactical advice during a turning point at Roland Garros: “In her last-16 win over Elena Rybakina at the French Open, she was trailing by a set and 2-0, seemingly on her way to another bruising defeat, when I told her to stand a little deeper to return serve. It worked. I advised her many times, but that’s one she listened [to],” he said, smiling.
Regarding the grass-court breakthrough: “On the grass, there was an opening because she never had success. It was not easy to convince her but once she was convinced, she got better every day. She just texted me, actually, from the locker room, to say: ‘Maybe it was not a bad idea, that point.’”
On her potential: “She’s still super-young, just turned 24, to have this success. And there’s still a lot of room for improvement. I hope to see a better player next year, same time.”
That final remark made it unmistakable: the hunt to overtake Aryna Sabalenka and reclaim the World No. 1 ranking is very much back on.