On June 16, 2025, Andrey Rublev expressed his desire to extend his coaching relationship with former world No. 1 Marat Safin beyond their trial period, which began in April during the clay season. Speaking in Halle ahead of the ATP 500 Terra Wortmann Open, Rublev said, “I’m satisfied and would like to continue working with Marat. Everything should be okay, we’ve talked a little, but we still have a few details to sort out,” per Motorcycle Sports. The Russian, ranked ATP No. 14, emphasized that their collaboration, initially set for the clay swing, showed promise despite mixed results, including a Hamburg final and a French Open fourth-round exit to Jannik Sinner, per Yardbarker.
Trial Period Reflections
Rublev, who has long admired Safin, admitted to Tennis.com in April, “Deep down, I always wanted to work with him, but I knew he wasn’t interested,” hesitant to pressure his idol, per Yardbarker. Safin, known for his fiery temperament and two Grand Slam titles, joined Rublev’s team alongside primary coach Fernando Vicente, debuting at the Monte Carlo Masters, per BBC Sport. Rublev credited Safin’s guidance for a mental “restart” after battling burnout and depression, noting their July 2024 talks helped him stop antidepressants, per ESPN. However, clay-court results were inconsistent, with a Madrid Open fourth-round loss to Alexander Bublik, prompting Rublev to slip to No. 17 before rebounding to No. 14, per TASS.
Safin’s Role and Future Prospects
Safin’s mentorship focuses on mental resilience, drawing from his own volatile career, per Tennis.com. Rublev acknowledged Safin’s preference for freedom, saying, “He enjoys his own schedule, not a full-time coaching one,” but hopes for a longer-term arrangement, per Tennis.com. In Halle, where Rublev faces qualifier Sebastian Ofner on June 17, a strong grass-court showing could solidify their partnership ahead of Wimbledon (June 30–July 13), per Motorcycle Sports. Karen Khachanov, commenting on the duo, told Championat, “The most important thing is that Andrey feels good… and Marat helps him move in the right direction,” per Tennis World USA.
Fan and Media Sentiment
X posts reflect excitement, with @jmgmoron calling the pairing a “dupla expectante” for Safin’s ability to tame Rublev’s “inner demon,” per @jmgmoron. Despite early skepticism from Yevgeny Kafelnikov, who doubted Rublev’s top-10 return, recent results have shifted sentiment, per We Love Tennis. Rublev’s focus on personal growth, evident in his Breaking Back documentary and Andrey Rublev Foundation work, aligns with Safin’s influence, per Motorcycle Sports.
