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Iga Swiatek and Alexandra Eala have reunited at the Rafael Nadal Academy, for the first time since 2023.

Both players are preparing for their first clay court tournament of the year, with Swiatek working with her new coach Francisco Roig for the first time.

Eala is set to play the Linz Open in Austria, while Swiatek is set for a bumper Women’s Stuttgart Open alongside Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka.

Ahead of their return to the WTA Tour, Eala has sent a message to the world number two on social media.

Alexandra Eala’s message for Iga Swiatek

Eala and Swiatek were pictured together in the Rafael Nadal Academy gym, three years after their last meeting.

Swiatek attended the graduation ceremony at the Rafael Nadal Academy in 2023, which saw Eala head out into the professional sphere for the first time.

Who is your favorite Filipino star – Alex Eala or Manny Pacquiao?

Let us know why in the comments!

Who is your favorite Filipino star - Alex Eala or Manny Pacquiao?

rukawa0127

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Eala this era but 2000 was pacman

nonongsalarza

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To me Alex Eala is more amazing to see a tennis pro player a lone one which seldom to see a product a country like us Philippines.Boxing is just a normal to Philippines to have a champ boxing but don't get me wrong I praise Pacquiao for have he achieve as a champ.

ahbetymson

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She exemplifies a simple and friendly Filipino athlete

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Sending a picture of her graduation with her millions of fans, Eala sent Swiatek: “Still can’t believe I have this picture with you.”

It’s been quite the journey for Eala since that picture in 2023. Less than a year later and she was beating Swiatek at the Miami Open in her breakout tournament.

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The pair met one more time on the WTA Tour last year, at the Madrid Open, which was won in three sets by the Polish star.

They came incredibly close to a third meeting at this year’s Miami Open, but it was scuppered by Magda Linette beating Swiatek in the second round.

What Iga Swiatek has previously said about Alexandra Eala

Swiatek and Eala’s relationship might have shifted from when they first met, but there is still mutual respect between the two.

The Pole has often praised Eala and took some time at this year’s Australian Open to share thoughts on her burgeoning popularity.

What is the best win of Alexandra Eala’s career so far? 🤔

Iga Swiatek in Miami, Clara Tauson at the US Open, Jasmine Paolini in Dubai, or a different match?

rb323918

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Got me her latest match against Siegemund is so far her best show of performance in tennis mastery.

daviescallum42

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Tauson at US Open was big as it was a grand slam, but Iga at Miami is the real standout for me

1

acatoutofthebag15

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tauson or sasnovich, it’s a toss-up. coming back from 1–5 vs tauson and 0–4 vs sasnovich isn’t just tennis, it’s high-stakes cinema. those scores prove eala is as much an entertainer as she is a fighter. her grit is what makes her matches legendary.

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“For sure she’s a nice person and I think personality-wise she also deserves to be supported I guess because she has all the good qualities,” she explained.

“Also, like, I guess coming from a smaller country, you will be kind of bigger because it’s not like they have many athletes that they can look up to, I guess. Not sure.”

Swiatek is also under no illusions at the powers Eala possesses when they get onto the tennis court.

“Her game style is pretty different I would say, with change of rhythm, a lot of slices, a lot of shots that she can surprise with. Yeah, I guess she can for sure sometimes use that as a surprise.”

Both players will surely be hoping they can play a third time on the WTA Tour on the clay court swing.

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Iga Swiatek recently hired Francisco Roig as her new coach.

After Swiatek fired Wim Fissette, several names were rumoured to be replacing the Belgian.

Among them, Caroline Wozniacki’s dad, Piotr Wozniacki, appeared to be the early favourite for the Swiatek coaching job, but later ruled himself out of the role.

How many Grand Slam titles will Iga Swiatek win with Francisco Roig as her coach?

She's signed one of the best coaches on tour!

gs292kw7pp

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Everything is great & I hate saying this but her serve is all wrong it should be one continuous movement! Part of the problem is she is throwing the ball to high and has to wait for itv to come down! Practice to music maybe a song that you like. Up together down together. Relax your right arm as the raquet goes back. The key word is rhythm.

reini.urban

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Not with that psychological disadvantage. Her technique only misses a good 2nd serve. But sfge looses because of her mind getting in the way. And her psychological coach contradicting her technical coach did not help at all.

christopher.kennelly.1976

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As a fellow introvert, Iga needs to get out of her own way to win more grand slams. Her meteoric rise to the top was pretty unprecedented, and her game study by everyone. Fisette made Iga an all surface threat, if not favorite. Iga is smart to retool her game under Roig, he has experience with the top clay player on the men's side, which Iga can leverage.

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Polish tennis legend, Wojciech Fibak has now delivered his verdict on Swiatek’s appointment of Roig, explaining why other options may have struggled.

Wojciech Fibak thinks Martina Navratilova may have struggled with ‘small conflicts’ in Iga Swiatek’s coaching box

Four-time Grand Slam quarter-finalist Wojciech Fibak shared his thoughts on Swiatek’s decision during an interview with ‘WP SportoweFakty‘.

“I support this decision. Working with [Francisco] Roig and the [Rafael] Nadal academy is a very good choice,” said Fibak.

“Rafa has always been Iga’s idol. She respects him greatly and values ​​his opinion. Secondly, they are both known for their excellent topspin on the forehand, which Swiatek has been failing at times lately.

“For over a year, all of Iga’s crises stem from the fact that she can no longer rely on her greatest weapon, her forehand.

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“The Spaniard is cultured, kind, and it’s easy to establish a good professional relationship with him.

“He’ll quickly establish rapport with the entire team, and there won’t be any disagreements with the rest of the team.”

A lot has been said about one member of Swiatek’s team in particular, her psychologist, Daria Abramowicz.

During a recent interview, the 24-year-old’s junior mentor, Artur Szostaczko, suggested Abramowicz undermined the work of Swiatek’s coaches.

Fibak believes Roig will work well alongside Abramowicz, but questions whether bigger names, like tennis legend Martina Navratilova, would have struggled.

“If it were a name like Martina Navratilova or Brad Gilbert, there might be some minor conflicts over who was more important,” he said.

“Navratilova would be more demanding. Roig won’t do that.

“He’s always been an assistant, playing a supporting role. He only occasionally replaced Nadal’s great coaches. However, he has vast knowledge and will be a non-confrontational person.

“That’s the most important thing. Iga has enough challenges on the court to also worry about maintaining good relationships in her box.”

Navratilova, a legend of the game, has limited experience coaching.

She did, however, briefly work alongside another Pole, Agnieszka Radwanska.

They were largely unsuccessful together, though, and parted ways after just four months.

Martina Navratilova’s record as a coach (Agnieszka Radwanska)

Radwanska shared the following message on X upon the conclusion of their coaching relationship.

“I just wanted to thank Martina [Navratilova] for her time and efforts over these last few months,” she said.

“It was a great experience to work with one of the all-time greats.

“However, we both agreed that as Martina could not commit 100% to the project, then it was not going to work as a long-term partnership.

“We will stay friends, and I wish her all the best in her personal and professional life.”

Recovering from a slow start to the season, Radwanska enjoyed a strong 2015 campaign, winning the biggest title of her career at the WTA Finals.

Navratilova clearly wasn’t the right coach for Radwanska, and according to Fibak, she wouldn’t be the right fit for Swiatek either…

When will Iga Swiatek play her first tournament with Francisco Roig?

As the six-time major winner looked for a new coach, Swiatek withdrew from Poland’s Billie Jean King Cup tie against Ukraine.

She is, however, still expected to compete at the Stuttgart Open.

Last year, Swiatek lost to Jelena Ostapenko in the Stuttgart quarter-finals.

She’ll be hoping for a better showing this time around, looking to kickstart the Swiatek/Roig era with a big win.

The 2026 Stuttgart Open begins on Monday, April 13.