“I knew that he was not interested”: Andrey Rublev explains how Marat Safin finally came on board
As he prepares for his Monte-Carlo Masters opener against Gaël Monfils, Andrey Rublev has shed light on his decision to bring former world No. 1 Marat Safin into his coaching team.
Rublev, seeded 7th in the tournament, has a strong history in Monte-Carlo. He reached his first Masters 1000 final here in 2021 and lifted the trophy two years later, defeating Holger Rune in a gripping three-set battle. However, last year’s first-round exit to Alexei Popyrin was a low point, one the Russian is eager to bounce back from.
Rublev’s relationship with Safin goes back decades. “Marat has inspired me since I was a kid,” Rublev told ATP Tour. “We’ve known each other forever, and over the years, I got to know him better. He’s an amazing person who’s overcome a lot.”
Safin’s influence has grown beyond admiration. Known for his own intense temperament during his playing days, the former Grand Slam champion has helped Rublev manage his own emotional volatility on court—a challenge that has led to several high-profile outbursts from the 26-year-old.
Despite their bond, Rublev was hesitant to ask Safin to join his team. “Deep down, I always wanted to work with him,” Rublev shared with Tennis.com. “But I knew he wasn’t really interested in coaching, and I didn’t want to pressure him. I genuinely care about him.”
That changed when Rublev heard through the grapevine that Safin might be open to working in tennis again. “So I thought, ‘Even if it’s not me, I’ll just ask.’ My agent reached out, they talked, and little by little we started working together.”
While Safin was known for his prowess on hard courts, his clay-court credentials are nothing to overlook. He won two titles on clay, including the ATP 500 in Barcelona, reached four additional clay finals, and made semifinal runs at both Monte-Carlo and Roland Garros.
Now, the Rublev-Safin pairing brings experience, fire, and familiarity into Monte-Carlo—a combo that could reignite Rublev’s 2025 season.
