WARSAW, Oct. 4 (Xinhua) -- World No. 1 Iga Swiatek withdrew from the Wuhan Open after she ended cooperation with coach Tomasz Wiktorowski, according to a statement from the player on Friday.
The Pole had registered for the WTA 1000 tournament, but on Friday, three days before it starts, the organizers were informed of her withdrawal as "she needs time ro make some changes in her team."
As it turned out, the world No. 1 is focused on seeking a new coach.
"After three years of achieving the greatest successes in my career, coach Tomasz Wiktorowski and I decided to end our cooperation," wrote Swiatek in a statement on Friday.
Wiktorowski led the Polish player to four Grand Slam titles.
"Coach Wiktorowski joined my team three seasons ago, when I really needed a change and a fresh approach. His experience, analytical and strategic approach and vast knowledge of tennis meant that a few months later I started achieving successes I had never even dreamed of. Our goal was to become number one in the world," the tennis player added.
On April 4, 2022, Swiatek debuted as the leader of the WTA World Ranking as the first Polish woman in history. She maintained the lead for 75 weeks, and lost it on September 11, 2023 to Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka. After eight weeks, she returned to the top and has been the leader since then.
In early September, the 23-year-old lost in the quarterfinals of the US Open to Jessica Pegula. Then she withdrew from the tournaments in Seoul and Beijing.
"Due to this significant change for me, I am giving myself the next few weeks to start working with a new coach. The first talks with coaches from abroad are already underway, because I feel that I am ready for the next step in my career. I will let you know when I make a decision," Swiatek concluded. ■
