“I would give him an ‘outstanding’ on the season,” Coach Fernando Vicente on Andrey Rublev

“I would give him an ‘outstanding’ on the season,” Coach Fernando Vicente on Andrey Rublev
Andrey Rublev

Andrey Rublev had a breakthrough 2020 season, claiming five ATP titles which was the most by any player in the pandemic-curtailed season. The Russian broke into the Top 10 rankings for the first time in his career and also earned a ticket to London to compete at the Nitto ATP Finals, against the World’s best players.

The hard work put in by the Russian was recognized by his peers, as he was voted as the ATP Most Improved Player of the Year while his coach, Fernando Vicente was named ATP Coach of the Year. Vicente won the award after being voted as the best among a group of coaches- Gilles Cervara (Daniil Medvedev’s coach), Juan Ignacio Chela (Diego Schwartzman’c coach), Nicolas Massu (Dominic Thiem’s coach) and Riccardo Piatti (Jannik Sinner’s coach).

Vicente who was delighted after receiving the award stated that he and Rublev had been through tough times in the past five years, which have brought joy and pain. “These awards, both mine and Andrey’s, are just a consequence of the years of hard work and countless hours dedicated to a sport that gives us so many emotions – for better or for worse,” Vicente said. “We’ve gone through some difficult times during these last almost five years together,” he added.

Vicente claimed that Rublev getting recognition from his peers was very special and makes him feel happy and appreciated. “Having the recognition from his peers is something that makes him feel so happy and appreciated, they also see Andrey day to day, how hard he works and tries each day to become a better player,” he said.

It’s a pleasure to work with a player who is motivated all the time: Vicente on Rublev

Andrey Rublev was voted as the ATP most improved player of the season

Fernando Vicente stated that Andrey Rublev is a coach’s delight, since he remains motivated all the time. Vicente praised the Russian for his outstanding season and the improvements he had made to his game in 2020.

“For me, it’s a pleasure to work with a player who is motivated all the time and works with such passion, always with the desire to keep improving,” Vicente said. “Of course, I’m pleased with almost everything. It was his best year in terms of ranking, he won the five finals he played and in general his entire game improved a lot. I would give him an ‘outstanding’ on the season,” he added.

Andrey Rublev was delighted that his coach, Fernando Vicente was named the ATP Coach of the Year and stated that he deserved the award. “I am more happy for my coach. I don’t know how it happened – it’s very nice and cool that he won this award. A lot of players and other coaches respect him. And I think that he deservedly received this award,” Rublev said.

Also Read: Andrey Rublev reveals that he is the worst among the Top 10 in ‘this regard’