Giovanni Mpetshi opens up on ‘disappointment’ as Francisco Roig joins Iga Swiatek team
· Yahoo Sports
Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard has opened up on his sudden split with Francisco Roig, admitting the timing left him surprised.
The French player had worked with the experienced coach during the Sunshine Doubles, before an abrupt change unfolded.
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Roig’s departure came just before he was confirmed as Iga Swiatek’s new coach. The world number four announced the partnership last week after ending her collaboration with Wim Fissette.
The Polish star has since begun training at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Spain, with Roig alongside her. Videos quickly surfaced showing her working on clay with both Roig and Rafael Nadal.
Giovanni Mpetshi admits disappointment after Francisco Roig exit before Iga Swiatek move
Photo by James D. Morgan/Getty ImagesMpetshi admitted he was caught off guard by how quickly the situation changed. He had expected their partnership to continue through the grass-court season before plans shifted after Miami.
“With Francisco, it was supposed to last at least until the grass-court season, but after Miami, he decided to stop,” he told L’Equipe. “It had gone so well, though.”
The Frenchman revealed the news did not come directly from the former Nadal coach. Instead, his agent informed him, which added to his frustration given the trust he had placed in the project.
“We were supposed to meet up for a week of training in Spain… My agent told me. He didn’t tell me directly. I trusted his words. To ruin all that so quickly, I think it’s a shame. It’s a tough, ruthless world.”
“I’d never seen anything like it. It was very surprising, and I was disappointed. But it will be a learning experience. I prefer to take the positive from these things rather than the negative. I’ll become stronger, even in life.”
Mpetshi explained he needed time to process the decision but concluded it was not related to his own performance.
He also pointed to how quickly footage of Roig working with Swiatek appeared online after the Spaniard made his decision.
“We were just starting out, there wasn’t any particular affinity, and it had been more complicated to part ways with Manu [Planque]. But it took me a good half day to process it. Was it my fault? Actually, not at all. I had nothing to do with it, with the videos that came out so quickly [with Swiatek]. But personally, I don’t think this project came together in 24 hours.”
The timing of the videos reinforced Mpetshi’s belief that the move had been developing behind the scenes.
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