Iga Swiatek kicked off her clay-court season in style, securing a straight-sets victory over Germany's Laura Siegemund at the Stuttgart Open. While navigating the challenge of a motivated home-crowd favorite, the world number one found her rhythm to notch a solid first win under the guidance of her new coach, Francisco Roig.

This victory marks a positive step following a coaching change earlier this spring. After parting ways with Wim Fissette, Swiatek headed to the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca for a training block—a move that provided a unique and inspiring transition.

Swiatek, a longtime admirer of Rafael Nadal, opened up about the legendary Spaniard's hands-on role during her training. "The dynamics were kind of unusual," Swiatek shared. "Francisco was his coach, obviously, and Rafa let him coach me. But from time to time, he was giving his own tips."

Describing Nadal's approach, she painted a picture of intense focus wrapped in a calm demeanor. "I'd say pretty chill, but on the other hand, strict. Honestly, it's Rafa. No matter what he's gonna say, you're gonna do it 100%. Having him on the court, you want to show him the same kind of vibe. Just him being there did the job."

For Swiatek, whose powerful baseline game is often compared to Nadal's, the experience was a masterclass in clay-court intensity. "With Rafa, it was just a privilege—a really inspiring time. I'm always super motivated before coming on clay, but having him on the court was like an extra crazy boost of motivation," she said.

While Nadal hasn't taken a formal coaching role since his 2024 retirement, his influence at his academy continues to shape the next generation. For Swiatek, the training block served as the perfect bridge to her new partnership with Roig, a seasoned coach with deep clay-court expertise from his years with Nadal.

The four-time Grand Slam champion is already speaking positively about the tactical adjustments under Roig's guidance. With this winning start in Stuttgart, Swiatek has confidently launched her campaign to dominate yet another European clay season.