Former US Open winner Stephens confirms Roig as coach after Nadal split

The
54-year-old,
who
had
worked
with
his
fellow
countryman
since
2005,
parted
ways
with
the
22-time
grand
slam
winner
earlier
this
month.

At
the
time,
Nadal
confirmed
Roig
was
leaving
his
set-up
for
“a
new
project,”
which
has
now
been
confirmed
as
a
role
with
Stephens.

The
2017
US
Open
winner
announced
the
news
in
a
post
to
her
social
media
accounts,
welcoming
him
aboard
ahead
of
the
2023
season.

“Happy
to
have
Francis
Roig
join
my
team
as
my
new
coach!”
she
wrote.
“Here’s
to
a
successful
journey
together.
Let’s
get
to
work.”

Happy
to
have
Francis
Roig
join
my
team
as
my
new
coach!
Here’s
to
a
successful
journey
together,
let’s
get
to
work

Muy
contenta
de
comunicaros
que
Francis
Roig
será
mi
entrenador
esta
temporada

pic.twitter.com/lr1JOGfqkY

—
sloanestephens
(@SloaneStephens)

December
21,
2022

Stephens,
who
achieved
a
career-high
WTA
ranking
of
third
in
2018,
has
returned
to
the
top
50
over
the
past
year
following
a
series
of
struggles
with
form.

She
claimed
her
first
title
in
four
years
at
the
Abierto
Zapopan
in
Mexico
in
February,
and
reached
a
first
grand
slam
quarter-final
since
2019
at
the
French
Open.

Nadal,
meanwhile,
announced
Gustavo
Marcaccio
would
replace
Roig
earlier
this
week,
adding
the
Argentine
to
a
team
that
contains
Carlos
Moya
and
Marc
Lopez.

The
Spaniard
was
effusive
in
his
tribute
to
his
outgoing
coach
last
week,
stating:
“I
only
have
words
of
gratitude
and
I
wish
him
all
the
luck
in
the
world.”