Martina Navratilova criticizes Iga Swiatek’s coach after US Open loss

Tennis legend Martina Navratilova criticized coach Francisco Roig following Iga Swiatek’s fourth-round exit from the 2026 US Open. Swiatek was defeated by Chinese qualifier Qinwen Zheng in a 5-7, 3-6 match after failing to convert a 5-0 lead in the first set.

During her commentary for Sky Sports Tennis, Navratilova described Roig’s technical advice as “rather strange,” suggesting that recommending a racket with looser string tension may have caused Swiatek to lose confidence in her game. Former player Marion Bartoli also noted visible friction between Swiatek and Roig during the match, observing that the coach appeared unhappy with Swiatek’s tactical decision to take returns early.