Świątek's coach suffers Achilles injury in Italian Open promotional match

Polish tennis star Iga Świątek's newly appointed coach Francisco Roig has torn his Achilles tendon during a friendly volleying match in Rome, an incident that occurred whilst promoting the Italian Open tennis tournament.

The injury, which happened on the weekend, required surgery in Warsaw by Tuesday. Despite the setback, Roig has made a swift recovery in terms of his professional commitments, missing only a single practice session with the six-time Grand Slam champion.

A €100 wager turns costly

Świątek revealed that the training accident occurred during a €100 betting game on a promotional court in downtown Rome. The Polish player held match point in the volleying session when Roig sustained the injury.

"He did a split step and tore his Achilles," Świątek explained following her three-set victory over American Caty McNally in her opening match at the Italian Open on Friday. "It happened on Saturday. On Tuesday, he had surgery already in Warsaw. We kind of took care of him."

Świątek initially did not grasp the severity of the situation, suggesting her coach appeared to be making light of the incident at first.

Recent coaching appointment unaffected

Roig, who previously coached Rafael Nadal amongst other elite players, was recruited by Świątek following her separation from Belgian coach Wim Fissette. The injury has not materially disrupted the coaching relationship, with Roig's absence limited to minimal training disruption.

The appointment marked a significant development in Świątek's coaching arrangements, bringing Roig's extensive Grand Slam experience to her technical team during a crucial period of her career.

Świątek continues Italian campaign

The incident has not dampened Świątek's performance in Rome, where she advanced to the round of 32 with a comfortable victory over McNally. She faces Italian opponent Elisabetta Cocciaretto in her next fixture at the Italian Open, one of Europe's premier clay court tournaments.

The Polish competitor's progress at the tournament will be monitored closely, with her coaching situation now stabilised despite the unusual circumstances surrounding Roig's arrival.

Original source: ABC News