ROME — In a bizarre twist that could only happen in the world of professional tennis, Iga Świątek’s coach, Francisco Roig, is nursing a torn right Achilles tendon after a friendly practice match turned unexpectedly serious. The injury occurred not on a tournament court, but on a special clay court set up in Rome’s iconic Piazza del Popolo, with a casual €100 ($118) bet on the line.
“Yeah, I broke my coach’s Achilles,” Świątek admitted with a mix of humor and regret after her hard-fought three-set victory over American Caty McNally at the Italian Open. Roig, best known as a longtime coach of Rafael Nadal, watched the match from the sidelines with his right leg heavily bandaged, having arrived on crutches.
Here’s how it all unfolded: Świątek and Roig were enjoying a lighthearted practice session on the promotional clay court in Piazza del Popolo, surrounded by fans. “We were like, ‘OK, I’m going to play this fun game we were playing before,’” Świątek explained. “He’s really good on the volley. So we made a bet for €100. I thought I was going to lose, honestly, because he’s been playing so great.”
To level the playing field, Świątek suggested they use only half the court, focusing on volleys within the service box. “I want to win, I’ll make you move a little bit,” she recalled saying. The match reached a critical point with Świątek leading 5-4 and holding match point. That’s when Roig lunged for a volley, executed a split step, and suddenly crumpled to the ground.
“I don’t think people noticed how serious it was because he was so brave in the moment,” Świątek said. “I would burst out crying. I would make such a drama. His face was like normal. I thought he was joking at the beginning. My hitting partner thought he was joking, as well.”
The injury happened on Saturday, and Roig underwent surgery in Warsaw before returning to Italy on Tuesday. Recovery from a torn Achilles typically takes around nine months—though Denmark’s Holger Rune is aiming for a seven-month comeback at this month’s Hamburg Open. While Roig doesn’t need to match the fitness of a professional player, the injury will pose significant challenges for his coaching duties.
Roig and Świątek have only been working together for just over a month, following her split from coach Wim Fissette after a year and a half. With Roig’s experience from years alongside Nadal, the partnership holds promise—but for now, Świątek is left with a unique story and a coach who literally put his body on the line for a friendly bet.