Rennae Stubbs says what she thinks is ‘interesting’ about Andrey Rublev hiring Marat Safin as his coach
Andrey Rublev’s decision to hire former world No. 1 Marat Safin as his new coach has quickly become one of the most talked-about developments on the ATP Tour.
The Russian star will begin working with Safin at the Monte Carlo Masters—a tournament where Rublev claimed one of the biggest titles of his career back in 2023. The two share a longstanding relationship, with Rublev knowing Safin since his youth. Now, Rublev has turned to the tennis legend in hopes of revitalizing his form and mental game.
While some have praised the move, others remain skeptical. Tennis commentator and former doubles world No. 1 Rennae Stubbs offered her take on the coaching change during a recent episode of her podcast.
Stubbs on Why Safin Might Be the Right Fit
Rublev enters the clay season on the back of a rough patch, having lost three straight matches. His most recent defeat came at the Miami Open, where he fell to Zizou Bergs.
Stubbs believes Safin’s fiery on-court personality could be a valuable asset to Rublev, who is also known for his emotional style of play.
“I think this is kind of an interesting match-up,” Stubbs said. “Because I think people who were a bit nuts and crazy on the court—which Safin was—can actually make great coaches. I’ll tell you why.”
“I was a little nuts on court myself at times, and I think you just get it. You understand what someone is going through.”
Stubbs contrasted Safin’s temperament with that of all-time greats like Chris Evert and Steffi Graf, suggesting they might struggle to relate to a player like Rublev.
“Chris Evert might be like, ‘Why would you act like this?’ Steffi Graf would be thinking, ‘What are you doing?’ But someone who understands the emotional ups and downs can actually help coach you through it.”
“It’ll be interesting to see how Safin gets into Rublev’s head—not that anyone wants to be in Rublev’s head—but just enough to help him. Like, ‘Yeah, you want to smash a racquet or launch a ball into the stands, but let’s joke about it, work through it in practice.’ That kind of coach-player connection is key.”
Dinara Safina Also Steps into Coaching Role
Interestingly, Safin isn’t the only member of his family stepping into coaching. His sister, former WTA world No. 1 Dinara Safina, has just been announced as the new coach of rising star Diana Shnaider.
Shnaider enjoyed a breakout year in 2024, soaring more than 80 spots in the WTA rankings and capturing four titles. However, the 21-year-old has struggled to replicate that form in 2025 and hopes Safina can help steer her back on track.
“Hello everyone! I’m excited to announce that Dinara Safina is joining my team as my new coach,” Shnaider shared on Instagram.
“Dinara is obviously a legend, and I’m thrilled to see what we can do together. I’m so grateful to my dad for stepping in as my coach during the transition and to my family for always supporting me.”
Shnaider and Safina will kick off their partnership at the Stuttgart Open, beginning Monday, April 14.
What’s Next?
As both Rublev and Shnaider look to return to top form, all eyes will be on their new coaching dynamics. Can Safin’s raw energy and experience ground Rublev’s intensity? Will Safina’s calm precision help Shnaider find her rhythm again?
Time—and the red clay—will tell.
