Jimmy Connors compares the collaboration of Andrey Rublev and Marat Safin to the one of Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray

After a disappointing first quarter of 2025, Andrey Rublev has hired compatriot Marat Safin as his coach ahead of the clay season.

Jimmy Connors compares the collaboration of Andrey Rublev and Marat Safin to the one of Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray

Andrey Rublev and Marat Safin (image via Tennis Tonic) Jimmy Connors (image via Rogers Cup), Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray (image via ATP)

World No. 9 Andrey Rublev recently turned to two-time Grand Slam champion Marat Safin for a new coaching partnership. The former World No. 1 will be making his coaching debut in Rublev’s corner during the clay court season. Safin will join Rublev alongside current and remaining head coach Fernando Vicente, who has been coaching Rublev since 2017.

Safin clinched the 2000 US Open by defeating Pete Sampras in the finals and the 2005 Australian Open by defeating Lleyton Hewitt in the finals. He helped lead Russia to Davis Cup titles in 2002 and 2006. Jimmy Connors weighed in on this new partnership on his Advantage Connors podcast, drawing parallels to the Novak Djokovic-Andy Murray partnership.

I think it’s an opportunity for both of them? 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 going through a lot of the waves you go through when you’re playing a match. I think it could be a really good thing for Rublev because Safin has been away from the game for a while. He probably watched this player from the sidelines and told him if you do this and that, he’ll pick him apart a little bit. He probably asked him what he thought, and he said, ‘I have some ideas.’ It’s like Djokovic and Murray, why not try it? Try it and see.

Jimmy Connors said via Advantage Connors

Safin is, in fact, no stranger to Rublev or Vicente. Safin has been a mentor of sorts to his younger compatriot, with Rublev having also credited Safin with “fixing his head” during tough times in 2024. Connors further added that Rublev needs someone like Safin.

He described both of them as having the same attitude, personality, and character. Connors believes this partnership is going to be very good for Rublev, and he looks forward to watching the partnership.

Andrey Rublev has faced a lot of opening round exits in 2025

Andrey Rublev has had a very inconsistent 2025 season so far. He commenced the year with the Hong Kong Open, where he had an opening round exit. He was then eliminated by Joao Fonseca in the first round of the Australian Open, failing in the slightest to crack the certainties of the young Brazilian star, who prevailed in three sets despite having no experience in a Grand Slam before.

Andrey Rublev
Anrey Rublev (via X)

At the Rotterdam Open, he made it to the quarterfinals, where he lost to Hubert Hurkacz in the quarterfinals. His sole impressive run was at the Qatar Open, where he clinched the title, defeating Jack Draper in the finals.

Following his triumph in Doha, his next three tournaments, i.e., the Dubai Tennis Championships, Indian Wells Open, and Miami Open, saw a disappointing opening round exit. He is now gearing up for the Rolex Monte Carlo Masters with Marat Safin on his team. Rublev will also be looking to defend his Mutua Madrid Open title in the clay season.

Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray have had a fairly successful partnership

Towards the end of 2024, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray created ripples in the tennis world when they announced their coaching partnership. After a quarter of the season, their partnership has proved to be very beneficial and shows further promise of achieving new milestones.

Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic
Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic (Image via X/Tie Break Ten)

Although most of his season so far has been marred with injury, Djokovic reached the semifinals of the Australian Open and reached the finals of the Miami Open without dropping a set en route. His quarterfinal performance at the Australian Open was very remarkable, as he defeated a young Carlos Alcaraz, who is in his prime. He fought hard at the Miami Open finals, taking both sets to tiebreak, although he was eventually denied his 100th career title by Jakub Mensik.