“I have to thank him”, Andrey Rublev reveals how his mentor helped him deal with his temper issues
Former Russian tennis great Marat Safin reportedly helped Andrey Rublev through his mental slump.
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Andrey Rublev and Marat Safin (inset) (images via Imago)
Andrey Rublev has had one of the most forgettable seasons of his career this year, losing in the first round in his last three tournaments. He started the year strong, making the quarterfinal at the Australian Open where he lost to eventual champion Jannik Sinner. His best result came in Madrid where he secured his second Masters 1000 title.
However, the rest of the year has been rather underwhelming for the World No.9 and he was seen having reckless outbursts on the court several times. After witnessing this, many fans and netizens strongly believe that the 26-year-old Russian is in need of therapy and counseling, accompanied by a mental health break.
Addressing these comments, Andrey Rublev suggested that he has been working on himself, especially on the mental side of the game and mentioned that he has had to reach out to his mentor for help. He said he got in touch with Marat Safin, an accomplished veteran with temper issues of his own, for suggestions on how to deal with his demons.
After Wimbledon, I worked on my head, because the problem was not my tennis. I focused on my head, my mentality. This will sound funny to you, but it is thanks to Marat Safin. We got in touch in one way or another, and that was it. He helped me. And I have to thank him.Andrey Rublev said in an interview for BOL’SHE!
Admitting the irony of the situation, as Safin himself was known to wear his heart on his sleeve, Rublev expressed his gratitude for the genuine help he received from the former pro.
Andrey Rublev continues to compete on tour despite many advising against it
In the last couple of months, the Russian no.2 has had a visible decline in form as well as temperament. He has broken several rackets while also taking his frustration out on his legs. It has now happened in consecutive tournaments where he did not live up to the expectations.
Earlier in the year, he was disqualified for yelling at a line judge in Dubai. Several pros, commentators, and fans have raised concerns about this state of his and advised him through their platforms to take a break.
However, Rublev brushed the comments aside. The Russian believes that he has gotten better in the last few weeks. He is now playing in the ATP 250 Croatia Open in Umag.
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