Belgium, Coach, Osaka, Swiatek: Everything you always wanted to know about Wim Fissette (but never had the time to find out) – updated with appointment as Swiatek coach
Wim Fissette has been appointed as the new coach of Iga Swiatek. Here’s all you need to know about the renowned Belgian coach
Wim Fissette, Billie Jean King Cup 2023
Image Credit: Photo News / Panoramic
Who is Wim Fissette?
Wim Fissette is a Belgian tennis coach. He was also a former player himself, reaching a career-high singles ranking of No 1291 on August 23, 1999.
How old is Wim Fissette?
He is 40 years old, born on March 22, 1980, in Belgium. That makes him 44 years old as of October 2024.
Who is Fissette coaching right now?
Fissette has been hired by Iga Swiatek as her new coach. Swiatek made the announcement on October 17, 2024, in a post on social media.
Who has Fissette coached in the past?
Fissette has also worked with Kim Clijsters, Sabine Lisicki, Simona Halep, Victoria Azarenka (two different stints), Petra Kvitova, Sara Errani, Johanna Konta, Angelique Kerber, Qinwen Zheng and Naomi Osaka. Clijsters, Halep, Azarenka, Kerber and Osaka are all former No 1 players in the world.
How many Grand Slam titles have his players won?
He has helped his charges to six Grand Slam titles – three with Clijsters, one with Kerber (Wimbledon 2018), and two with Naomi Osaka (2020 US Open and 2021 Australian Open).
What are some of his other best accomplishments as a coach?
He also took both Lisicki (Wimbledon 2013) and Halep (French Open 2014) to Grand Slam finals. In 2017, he helped Konta win the Miami Open and make a run to the Wimbledon semis.
Why was Qinwen Zheng upset with Fissette?
While working with Fissette, Zheng enjoyed a successful 2023 season and reached her first Grand Slam quarter-final at the US Open. But following her loss to Aryna Sabalenka, Fissette abruptly ended their partnership and decided to rejoin Naomi Osaka’s team as the Japanese player prepared to comeback form her maternity leave.
“During the US Open I knew he had contact with the team of Osaka,” Zheng said during the 2023 China Open. “Right after the match, he said to me that he felt like he had no connection with me. He never said that to me before. Right after I was defeated, he said that to me. I felt very strange. I talked to my manager. I asked my manager whether he will go to Osaka’s team. The manager said, ‘No, he wouldn’t be that kind of person.’ But after resting for a week, he suddenly told me that he was going to work with Osaka. It was quite a big impact to me and my team members and my family. I cried after hearing that. There were no fights, no arguments in our collaboration. There was nothing new to me in this collaboration, but also he did not do anything wrong. I thought that was an unethical end to that collaboration. I understand that Osaka can provide a better offer to him. I understand from his perspective this might be a better position. He has a family to support. I understand his decision, but it doesn’t mean I will forgive him for making such a decision.”
Was Fissette a player before becoming a coach?
Yes, Fissette briefly played at the professional level in 1999 and 2000. His career-high ranking is No. 1291, which he achieved in August of 1999.
What was his first dream job in coaching?
When Fissette first got into coaching in the late 2000s, he wanted to eventually work with Maria Sharapova. However, it never happened.
“That was my dream, because she was more than just a great tennis player,” Fissette said in an interview with Tennis Magazine in the Netherlands. “She was a global star. If someone like that trusts you, it means the world.”
Does Fissette have a specific coaching philosophy?
Fissette does not have a specific coaching philosophy, but rather caters to the needs of whatever particular player he is coaching at the time. He is also driven by immediate success as opposed to longevity. 
What other interests does he have?
When he isn’t traveling the tennis circuit, he likes to spend time with his wife and son, Arthur. In addition to traveling, his hobbies include soccer and golf. Fissette is also a SAP Ambassador, focusing on data analytics.
Is he active on social media?
He has a X/ Twitter account, with 4,458 followers as of October 17, 2024 but is not particularly active there. He has an Instagram account, with over 7,600 followers, on which he is slightly more active.
