Andrey Rublev says what Marat Safin is really like after appointing him to his coaching team

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Andrey Rublev has made a coaching change after losing three successive matches, with Marat Safin joining his team.

Jimmy Connors has approved of Rublev appointing Safin, with the Russian duo now linking up at the Monte-Carlo Masters.

After winning the Qatar Open in February, ATP Tour number nine Rublev lost his openers in Dubai, Indian Wells and Miami.

He now turns his focus to the Monte-Carlo Masters, where the seventh seed takes on Gael Monfis in round two.

Monfils is already off to winning ways at the ATP Masters 1000 event, having knocked out qualifier Fabian Marozsan in round one.

Andrey Rublev says ‘really nice guy’ Marat Safin was his inspiration

Rublev meanwhile will be working hard behind the scenes with Safin, who won two Grand Slam titles during his fantastic career.

The former has now shared insight into his coaching decision with the latter, telling Tennis: “It was my feelings. There was no logic, no explanation.

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“I know him since I was a kid, and he was my inspiration. Then, he knows me for many years as well. When I start to play better tennis, we start to get to know each other more.

“I find out that he’s a really nice guy and then later on, during I guess his life, he was struggling with his own struggles and he was able to [come] through. And that’s it.”

Andrey Rublev had ‘nothing to lose’ when asking Marat Safin to coach him

Now aged 27, Rublev has reached as high as five in the ATP Tour rankings, having won 17 titles in his career so far.

But there is a feeling that the Russian’s emotions often impede his tennis, with Safin now potentially looking at that issue during his coaching of his compatriot.

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The former world number one also had many outbursts throughout his playing career, with Tracy Austin thinking Safin could have won six Grand Slam titles if he was more professional.

It was not, however, a partnership that was initially possible for Rublev, who explained: “Deep inside, I always wanted to work together, but I knew that he was not interested.

“And I never wanted to put any pressure because I really care about Marat. Later on, I found out that he’s kind of ready to work in tennis or something like that, that he doesn’t mind.

“And then I say, ‘OK, even if it’s not going to be me, at least I can ask.’ I have nothing to lose if I ask. Then my agent asked, they talk and little by little we work for a couple of days together.”