Andrey Rublev has taken on Marat Safin as his new coach as he looks to take his career up a notch.
The Russian performer was pretty abject in three of the four Grand Slam events in 2024, reaching the quarters of the Australian Open and then crashing out before the last eight in the other three.
| Andrey Rublev Grand Slam Record 2025 | Round |
| Australian Open | QF |
| French Open | 3R |
| Wimbledon | 1R |
| US Open | 4R |
Desperate times call for desperate measures and Rublev has now placed 2005 Australian Open champion Safin in his corner for his endeavours in 2025.
Rublev has hailed Safin already and the hope will be that he can play some sound tennis and start causing trouble among the game’s big hitters in the quest for silverware.
The 27-year-old reached the final of the Qatar Open in February but lost in the first round at Indian Wells and the Miami Open ahead of the Monte Carlo Masters.
Things do look to be on the up, however, and Rublev is now into the last 16 of the maiden clay-court ATP 1000 event of 2025.
What Marat Safin told Andrey Rublev before Gael Monfils match
Rublev appears to have turned a bit of a corner, and it’s very much a case of so far, so good for this new relationship between coach and player.
Monfils has started 2025 pretty solidly, so beating the Frenchman is no mean feat for Rublev, who has been striving for consistency.
Rublev came through 6-4, 7-5 and in his on-court interview, he shared what Safin has told him prior to the match.
He said: “He told me a few things before the match. He told me basically it would become a mental match. If I am able to handle the patience, because Gael will start to play amazingly and enjoy the atmosphere.
“The crowd will support him. He likes it. He said the most important thing will be to have patience in those moments and wait for your moment. That’s it. During the match, I guess his confidence gave me calmness.”
Rublev now has golden chance to go deep in Monte Carlo
It’s definitely a case of baby steps with Rublev when it comes to him working with Safin.
The world number nine is a capable performer but the fact he’s never been beyond the last eight of a slam is something he will be keen to address.
Rublev faces Arthur Fils next and the man with 17 career singles titles holds the edge, having won their only previous meeting in Hong Kong last year.
Having a proven winner in Safin alongside him on the tour can only bode well and with Fils to come next, there is now genuine optimism for Rublev this week.
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