Safin, about Rublev: "He doesn't know how to channel his energy, he lacks belief in himself"

Diego Jiménez Rubio | 22 Jun 2026 | 12.12

Marat Safin analyzes his work with Rublev. Photo: gettyimages

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Marat Safin has delved into the work he is doing with Andrey Rublev and has shared a very revealing reflection on the issues that continue to hinder the Russian from reaching his full potential. The former world number one believes that his compatriot's limitations stem from confidence-related issues, personality, and how he interprets both tennis and life.

Marat Safin's inclusion in the environment of Andrey Rublev has generated enormous anticipation in recent months. After years of working with Fernando Vicente and establishing himself as one of the most consistent players on the circuit, Rublev seemed to have reached a point of stagnation that was hard to break through.

He kept winning matches, staying among the world's best, and making appearances in the later rounds of major tournaments, but there was a sense that there was an invisible ceiling preventing him from making the ultimate leap. Safin seems convinced that the solution lies not in changing strokes or tactical patterns but in reconstructing much deeper aspects of his competitive identity.

Marat Safin explains why Rublev needed a different voice

One of the first aspects Safin addressed was the importance of introducing new stimuli into a seasoned player's career. He believes that when the relationship between coach and player extends over many years, there is a risk that certain messages lose their effectiveness.

"When you've been with the same coach for a long time, you stop listening the same way. Your ear and your eye get used to it," he explained. According to Safin, the relationship between Rublev and Fernando Vicente had developed a very special closeness, which was positive in many ways but could also diminish the impact of certain warnings or corrections over time.

"He was no longer listening to him as a coach. He was listening more as an older brother." That's why he understands that the arrival of a different figure could be beneficial. Not necessarily to change everything but to introduce new perspectives and deliver messages that might need to be heard from a different voice.

Rublev's playing style reflects his personality

The most interesting part of the conversation came when Safin was asked about the possibility of altering Rublev's tennis at this stage of his career. His response was as simple as it was deep. "Your playing style is a manifestation of your character. You play as you are."

The reflection encapsulates an idea that many coaches share in private but seldom state so directly. For Safin, Rublev's issues cannot be solely analyzed from a technical standpoint because they are interconnected with his way of thinking and reacting to the challenges posed by competition.

He used a very graphic image to describe it. "Andrey is an electric guy." According to Safin, much of Rublev's difficulties stem from the tremendous emotional intensity that constantly accompanies him on the court. "He has a lot of energy, but he doesn't know where to channel it. It shoots off in all directions."

For years, that intensity has been one of Rublev's hallmarks. It's also one of the reasons why he has been able to compete at the highest level. However, Safin suggests that the same quality that has propelled him this far might be limiting him in moments of maximum demand.

Safin: "It's not about the forehand or the backhand"

It's particularly striking that the former world number one almost entirely dismisses the idea that the solution lies in technical matters. "He has to change the way he thinks." From there, he developed a theory that explains well the approach he is taking alongside Rublev.

"The way you see tennis is the way you see life." Safin believes that both dimensions are intimately connected. That's why he thinks that solely attempting to correct game-related details would be a mistake. "We're not talking about improving the forehand, the backhand, or changing technical matters. It doesn't work like that."

In his view, when a player is already among the world's best, the differences lie in much more challenging-to-identify places. "We enter a psychological terrain, much subtler. That's where the details that make the difference lie." He compared that process to the difference between a good work and a masterpiece. At first glance, they may seem similar, but it's the small nuances that end up setting players apart when all possess an extraordinary level.

The enormous challenge of changing when you are already an established player

Safin also explained why he finds it so challenging to introduce profound changes to a player who has been competing at the elite level for years. "It's very difficult to modify those details because you've already formed yourself as a person."

In his opinion, any real transformation requires far more than incorporating new tactical concepts or training routines. It entails questioning mental habits that have been ingrained in the player's mind for decades. "You have to reprogram yourself completely. Break old programs and clean up your inner space."

The expression may sound extreme, but it perfectly captures the magnitude of the challenge Safin sees in Rublev. He believes that people accumulate experiences, fears, beliefs, and defense mechanisms over the years that end up influencing their behavior in high-pressure situations. That's why he thinks that any real change requires time. Much more time than what the professional calendar typically demands.

Safin's major observation about Rublev

After analyzing all these aspects, Safin concluded by pointing out what he believes is the main obstacle still holding back his compatriot. "Andrey lacks belief in himself." The statement may sound simple, but it carries significant weight when coming from someone who has worked closely observing one of the most talented players on the circuit for weeks.

"He needs to have confidence in what depends on him." Safin thinks that often Rublev interprets certain results or situations as external circumstances happening to him when, in reality, he has much more control over them than he imagines. And he wrapped up his reflection with a phrase that perfectly encapsulates his view on sports and life.

"You're either a victim or a creator. There's no third option." Perhaps therein lies the true essence of the work he is trying to develop alongside Rublev. It's not just about helping him win more matches or enhance his performance in major tournaments. It's about convincing him that there is still room to build a better version of himself. A version capable of harnessing all that energy that characterizes him without it ultimately working against him. Because for Marat Safin, at least for now, the main opponent of Andrey Rublev is not on the other side of the net.

Marat Safin explains:
- His role for Andrey Rublev as a bad cop but also a teddy bear. 😄
- what Andrey's lacking and what he expects from him to change.
- also describes Andrey's character as "electric" saying he has a lot of energy he doesn't know how to channel. pic.twitter.com/c5wntbxKRN
— ᵛᵉⁿᵒᵐ ◥ ◤ | 🇫🇷 🇩🇪 🏴 (@RUBL3D3V) June 22, 2026