Andrey Rublev hiring Marat Safin as his new coach is one of the big talking points on the ATP Tour at the moment.
Rublev will be working with Marat Safin starting from the Monte Carlo Masters, where the former won on of the biggest titles of his career back in 2023.
The Russian has known the world number one from a young age, with Rublev recruiting Safin for a specific reason.
This decision from Rublev to hire Safin has split opinion, with Rennae Stubbs now having her say.
Rennae Stubbs gives her verdict on Marat Safin coaching Andrey Rublev
Rublev won the Qatar Open in February, but has since lost three consecutive matches, with his most recent coming against Zizou Bergs at the Miami Open.
Ahead of the clay court season, Stubbs spoke on her podcast about what she thinks Safin will be able to help Rublev with.
Stubbs highlighted Safin’s own mentality in his playing days, and suggested that Chris Evert and Steffi Graf would not be able to coach Rublev.
“I think this is kind of an interesting match up, because I think people who were nuts and crazy on the tennis court, which Safin was. I think they make great coaches and I’ll tell you why,” said Stubbs.
“I think I was a little nuts on the court at times myself and I think you just get it. You understand what someone is going through.
“If you were like a Chris Evert. I think Chris would have a hard time coaching somebody who was a little bit nuts because she would be like I don’t understand why you would act like this, or Steffi Graf would be like what are you doing.
“Whereas someone who can relate a little bit to the crazy and to the emotional ups and downs on the court actually does make a good coach because they understand and feel for you because they can relate.
“It will be interesting to see how Marin Safin can get into the head of Rublev a little bit, not that anybody wants to be in Rublev’s head.
“But to be like I get it, you want to smash a racket, rip someone’s head off or rip a ball out the stadium but in the end that is not going to help you and work on it in practice and work on joking about it. I think being related is important as a coach and I think Marat Safin is going to be that for Rublev.”
Dinara Safina announced as Diana Shnaider’s new coach
Safin is not the only member of his family who is moving into coaching, with his former world number one sister Dinara Safina also part of a big announcement.
Diana Shnaider had a breakout season on the WTA Tour in 2024, climbing over 80 places in the rankings after winning four titles.
The 21-year-old has struggled to replicate this form so far in 2025, and has now announced that Safina is her new coach.
“Hello everyone! I am excited to announce that Dinara Safina is joining my team as my new coach,” Shnaider said on Instagram.
:The past few months, I have been searching for a partnership like this that I am confident will be great for me both on and off the court. Dinara is obviously a legend, and I am thrilled to see what we can do together.
“While taking the time find this new partnership, I am appreciative of my dad for helping me out as my coach. My parents and little brother are my biggest supporters in the whole world and I am grateful for their continued support and love. Dinara and I will see you all on the red clay!
Shnaider and Safina will begin their partnership together at the Stuttgart Open, that begins on Monday April 14.
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