Andrey Rublev has made a big addition to his coaching team as he continues to struggle for form on the ATP Tour.
The world number nine has endured a tough start to his 2025 ATP campaign and currently holds a disappointing 9-7 record.
Rublev’s defeat to Zizou Bergs in his opening match at the Miami Open saw his losing streak stretch to three, having lost to Matteo Arnaldi in Indian Wells and Quentin Halys in Dubai.
Remarkably, five of the Russian’s nine wins this year came in Doha, when Rublev won the Qatar Open, seemingly out of nowhere.
Unable to back that result up, Rublev has now made a big addition to his team ahead of the clay court season as he looks to turn things around.
Andrey Rublev hires two-time Grand Slam winner Marat Safin as his coach
Russian media outlet Bolshe has reported that Rublev will bring Marat Safin on-board his team for the clay court season.
The Russian will join Rublev’s main coach, Fernando Vicente, who has worked with the 27-year-old since 2017.
Safin is committed to work with Rublev through the clay-court season, beginning their work at the Monte-Carlo Masters on April 7.
Rublev is a former champion in the principality, having beaten Denmark’s Holger Rune in the 2023 final, 5-7, 6-2, 7-5.
He had reached the final of the event two years earlier, losing out to Monte-Carlo specialist Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets.
Rublev will be hoping to rediscover that form with Safin by his side, as he looks to win a third career Masters 1000 title.
The 27-year-old has previously spoken about his interactions with Safin, explaining how the former world number one helped him recover after a tough Wimbledon tournament in 2024.
“I worked to fix my head because the problem wasn’t with my tennis, I just focused on fixing my head,” he said.
“It’s going to sound funny, but it’s all thanks to Marat Safin.
“We got in contact somehow, and that’s it.
“He helped me, big special thanks to him.”
How did Marat Safin perform on clay courts during his tennis career?
Safin will be providing Rublev support during the clay court season, but just how successful was the Russian on the surface?
A champion at the Australian Open and US Open, Safin’s best result at the French Open was a run to the semi-finals in 2002.
- 2002 French Open SF – Marat Safin lost to Juan Carlos Ferrero, 3-6, 2-6, 4-6
- 2002 French Open QF – Marat Safin beat Sebastien Grosjean, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2
- 2002 French Open 4R – Marat Safin beat Arnaud di Pasquale, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-2
- 2002 French Open 3R – Marat Safin beat David Nalbandian, 6-3, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4
- 2002 French Open 2R – Marat Safin beat Olivier Rochus, 4-6, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3
- 2002 French Open 1R – Marat Safin beat Michael Llodra, 6-4, 2-6, 7-6, 6-4
At clay court Masters 1000 events, Safin reached two finals, losing out to Gustavo Kuerten (2000) and Roger Federer (2002) in Hamburg.
Of Safin’s 15 ATP titles, only two came on the clay, securing a double in Spain 25 years ago.
| Tournament | Round | Opponent | Score |
| 2000 Majorca Open | F | Mikael Tillstrom | 6-4, 6-3 |
| 2000 Majorca Open | SF | Galo Blanco | 6-2, 6-2 |
| 2000 Majorca Open | QF | Carlos Moya | 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 |
| 2000 Majorca Open | 2R | Christian Ruud | 3-6, 7-5, 7-5 |
| 2000 Majorca Open | 1R | Adrian Voinea | 6-4, 7-6 |
| 2000 Barcelona Open | F | Juan Carlos Ferrero | 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 |
| 2000 Barcelona Open | SF | Magnus Norman | 2-6, 7-6, 6-3 |
| 2000 Barcelona Open | QF | Nicolas Lapentti | 7-6, 7-5 |
| 2000 Barcelona Open | 3R | Gaston Gaudio | 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 |
| 2000 Barcelona Open | 2R | Mariano Puerta | 6-7, 7-6, 6-4 |
| 2000 Barcelona Open | 1R | Mariano Zabaleta | 6-4, 6-4 |
Two titles for Rublev on the clay in 2025 would certainly go down well, however, as the Russian looks to return to winning ways on the ATP Tour.
Rublev will begin his clay court campaign at the Monte-Carlo Masters on April 7, where he’ll compete as the number eight seed.
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
