Who is the latest 'super coach' to re-join the tennis circuit? Why might he not last? Andrey Rublev takes on help of former world No. 1
Updated 09/04/2025 at 15:08 GMT+1
Andrey Rublev has become the latest player on the tennis circuit to hire a 'super coach', similarly to Novak Djokovic's appointment of Andy Murray. Rublev has taken on former world No. 1 and compatriot Marat Safin as part of his team. "For the moment, I'm just trying to listen and to try new things. We'll see how it will work," Rublev said, as he bids to break his Grand Slam quarter-final hoodoo.
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Andrey Rublev has announced that Marat Safin, a former world No. 1 and two-time Grand Slam champion, has joined his coaching team - but how long will the relationship last?
Safin formally joins ahead of the clay swing, with Rublev readying himself for a run at the Monte-Carlo Masters, where he opened his campaign on Wednesday with victory over Gael Monfils.
The world No. 9 continues to chase his first Grand Slam after 10 quarter-final exits, but understands he will have to prove he can "listen" if he wants Safin to stick around.
"I hope [he will be my coach] for really long, but it depends if he will enjoy working with me or he will suffer," Rublev said.
"Because if he feels that I'm not doing the things or I'm not listening, I don't think he will waste his time.
"For the moment, I'm just trying to listen and to try new things. We'll see how it will work, or what it will bring, or what's going to happen."
Rublev has often shown bursts of anger on the court when things are not quite going his way - similar struggles to those Safin endured during his playing days.
"He had his own struggles that he went through, and I was always afraid to ask [about] those things, but inside I always wanted to," Rublev explained.
"In the end, when I found out that he was also ready and he was looking maybe to work in tennis, it was like, 'OK, I have to at least try, I have to ask'."
Rublev's partnership with Safin is not the only high-profile coaching appointment in recent history, with the retired Andy Murray teaming up with 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic.
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Murray retired in 2024 with three majors of his own under his belt, but joined his long-time rival's set-up ahead of the 2025 season.
Meanwhile, the sister of Safin and former world No. 1 Dinara Safina is also back in professional tennis, where she has linked up with Diana Shnaider.
Shnaider, ranked No. 12 in the world, announced the new partnership in a post on social media on Tuesday and becomes the latest WTA star to hire a "super coach".
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"I am excited to announce that Dinara Safina is joining my team as my new coach," she wrote on Instagram.
"The past few months, I have been searching for a partnership like this that I am confident will be great for me both on and off the court.
"Dinara is obviously a legend, and I am thrilled to see what we can do together."
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