Andrey Rublev‘s journey has been a rollercoaster of highs and lows. Reflecting on his struggles, Rublev once emphasized, “Any decision you take or any feeling you are feeling or emotions, to be aware of that, where exactly it’s coming from, why, and to be aware that it’s your decision.” After a winless streak since the 2024 Madrid Open, his recent victories over Jack Draper and Alex de Minaur in Qatar reignited his confidence. He credited his comeback to Marat Safin, who has been a guiding light since Rublev’s early struggles and is now part of his team. While everyone expects stellar results, Safin provides a dose of realism for Rublev.

Rublev has formally included former World No.1 Marat Safin in his coaching team, sending shockwaves through the tennis world. Known for their fiery on-court personalities and common background, this dynamic duo is set to kick off their collaboration in the 2025 clay court season. The Monte Carlo Masters marks the beginning of this exciting new phase, and expectations are high.

Speaking to Tennis Channel, Safin was asked about his strategy to help Rublev over the next couple of months. In his signature straightforward style, he replied, “Well, it depends on him. I can show him the road, but he needs to walk the road. Because it’s not going to happen magically to work your way, and I think it’s up to him. So, let’s see how it goes for the next couple of weeks, but I think he’s willing to do it. But for how long? I don’t know; you have to ask him the question.” This no-nonsense approach from Safin sets the tone for a potentially transformative partnership.

Andrey hasn’t had the best start to 2025. He was defeated by Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca in the first round of the Australian Open and continued to struggle in Indian Wells, Dubai, and Miami. These early exits highlighted some glaring issues in his game, particularly his decision-making under pressure and physical endurance on the court.

Safin might be a relatively new face in professional coaching, but he’s no stranger to Rublev’s inner circle. The 2005 Australian Open winner has been a guiding light for Rublev, especially during tough times. After Rublev’s early departure at Wimbledon last year, a heart-to-heart with Safin helped him bounce back. Rublev struggled for years, opening up about possibly being diagnosed with depression.

He was on antidepressants for months before he ultimately stopped seeing positive effects. That’s when he started to turn to the former pro. “Marat made me understand myself, that was a bit of a restart from the bottom. From there, little by little, I started to move in a better direction,” he said at the Qatar Open last month.

While Marat might not give a clear-cut answer to how this partnership will play out, tennis legend Jimmy Connors sees potential in how this might work.

Connors explains why the Andrey-Marat partnership is a good idea

On April 1, in an episode of the Advantage Connors podcast, the tennis legend weighed in on the intriguing partnership. He noted, “I think it’s an opportunity for both? Rublev probably needs someone like him, with the same attitude and personality. The same character who can understand what he’s going through when he’s up and down and he’s going through a lot of the waves that you go through when you’re playing a match.”

The dynamic duo is set to make their debut at the Monte-Carlo Masters on April 7, marking the beginning of the clay-court season. Connors continued, “He probably watched this player from the sidelines and told him that if you did this and that, he would dissect it a little bit. He probably asked him what he thought, and he told him that I had some ideas. It’s like Djokovic and Murray, why not give it a try? Try it and you’ll see.” He drew a parallel to the collaboration between Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray. But why?

Well, Djokovic and Murray joined forces this season, aiming to help Nole achieve his next milestones – his 100th title and 25th Grand Slam. Many saw this as a perfect fit, combining Djokovic’s exceptional skills with Murray’s sharp analytical mind. However, their partnership has been a work in progress so far.

Now, with the former Russian World No.1 committed to the entire clay-court swing, the stage is set for a thrilling comeback story. Will Rublev take Safin’s words to heart and make a serious push for titles? Share your thoughts below!