Almost no one expected that Marat Safin would agree to start a collaboration with Andrey Rublev, who is going through a really delicate moment in his career. The current world number 9 has known his compatriot for a very long time and had received advice from him in the past, but had never had the courage to ask him to become his new coach.
The champion from Moscow has understood that he absolutely needs a change to give a positive turn to his career, conditioned by his off-court problems in recent months and entered a sort of limbo.
Apart from his resounding triumph at the Doha ATP 500 in February, Andrey's 2025 has not been very brilliant so far and his stay in the Top 10 of the ATP ranking is also at great risk. The former world number 5 will make his debut in Monte Carlo tomorrow against French veteran Gael Monfils, who is still very dangerous although he has entered the latter part of his career.
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Rublev is also able to play excellent tennis on red clay, considering that he won the Mutua Madrid Open last season and also triumphed in the Principality two years ago.
Rosset opens up on Safin
In a recent interview with 'L'Equipe', former Swiss ace Marc Rosset expressed his sincere point of view on the intriguing collaboration between Rublev and Safin: "Marat and I have always been like brothers and the things that people think of him are not true. He is not a superficial person who thinks only of fun, a wrong image that many media have wanted to convey to the outside.
Safin is a profound man who has had many experiences during his life, which is why he will be able to help Andrey not to repeat his own mistakes."
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Rublev's personality is not easy to manage and the former world No. 1 will have to be good at gaining his trust.
Marat will work closely with Fernando Vicente, who has been working with Andrey for many years.
