Iga Swiatek's new coach, Wim Fissette, has sparked significant discussions with his remarks about the perception of losses in a player's career. In an interview, he compared Serena Williams' tournament wins to her early exits and significant losses, emphasizing the role that failures play.

Appointment and Background

Wim Fissette was appointed as Iga Swiatek's new coach in October this year via social media. This came after Swiatek let go of Tomasz Wiktorowski's services. Fissette has a remarkable track record as a coach, having led several top players to Grand Slam titles.

He has worked with the likes of Kim Clijsters, Simona Halep, Angelique Kerber, and Naomi Osaka, demonstrating his expertise in the sport. His appointment with Swiatek has added a new dimension to her career.

Comparing Serena Williams

During an interview, Fissette was asked about dealing with the consequences of fans treating Swiatek's losses like national tragedies. He used Serena Williams as an example to explain the role of losses in a player's career.

He said, "Failures will always be a part of a career. I think when you look back at Serena Williams, she had an incredible career, right? You only remember the highlights, the flashes. You don't remember the tournaments where she lost in the first round or suffered a devastating defeat."

Fissette's comments highlight the fact that even the greatest players have their share of losses, but it is the wins that often define their careers.

Training to Face Serena Williams

Although Fissette never got the opportunity to coach Williams directly, he had to train his former pupils to face her on numerous occasions. In May this year, as a guest on the Australian Open's "The Sit-Down" podcast, he praised Serena Williams as the best women's tennis player in history.

He said, "Serena, I mean obviously the best female player of all time. I have so much respect for her. If you would just stay mentally like believing that there was always kind of a window where she was like going down a bit (with her) level and that was I felt that was always the moment that you needed to be ready for."

His insights into training players to face Williams reveal the respect and challenge that such a player presents on the court.

Success Against Serena Williams

Six of Fissette's former pupils managed to come out on top against Williams, who bid farewell to tennis at the 2022 US Open after a shock third-round loss. This further emphasizes the significance of facing and overcoming such a formidable opponent.

It shows that with the right training and mindset, players can achieve success even against the best in the game.