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Andrey Rublev has revealed how his coaching team has been running him ragged in the off-season following a less than stellar outing during the 2025 season. The Russian's results in 2025 were marked by frequent lows interrupted by the occasional highs.
This season marked the first time that Rublev didn't make a Grand Slam quarterfinal since 2019. He underperformed at the Masters 1000 level as well, posting a 9-9 record. The biggest highlight of his season was winning the Qatar Open, an ATP 500 tournament.
However, that didn't help cement Rublev's position in the top 10 in the long run. A regular fixture within the region, he dropped out of the top 10 for the first time since his debut in October 2020.
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Rublev recently appeared on ex-British pro Greg Rusedski's podcast, Off Court with Greg. He disclosed how his coach, Marat Safin, has been wearing him down in the off-season with some intense training.
"For me, it’s crazy because now with Marat and members of my team, they are killing me. I can’t remember another year when they have done this to me. It is fitness to begin with for two and a half hours. Then it is tennis for two hours and he is killing me. No mistakes from the baseline, high intensity from the baseline until you make it. This push is all for me. It is always about yourself," Rublev said.
Safin won two Major titles during his time as a pro and peaked at No. 1 in the rankings. He joined Rublev's team in April 2025, and their best result as a pair was a runner-up finish at the Hamburg Open in July. Their hard work will be put to the test in the coming season, which will begin in two weeks.
Andrey Rublev to kick off the 2026 season at the Hong Kong Open
Andrey Rublev will begin his preparation for the season's first Major by participating in the Hong Kong Open 2026. This will be his third consecutive appearance at the tournament.
Rublev hoisted the winner's trophy in Hong Kong on his debut in 2024. However, he made a swift exit in 2025, failing to even win a match as part of his title defense. He left the Australian Open without a win as well after that.
After an underwhelming start to the 2025 season, Rublev will be keen to avoid a repeat in 2026. With his coach, Marat Safin, putting him through the wringer these days, he will be hopeful of a better start in 2026.
