Andrey Rublev represents the next generation of Russian tennis players, who are following in the footsteps of such great legends like Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Marat Safin.
Rublev is currently the youngest player in the top 50 in the ATP Ranking and the top seed at the ATP Next Gen Finals. He has reached a career high ranking of world number 37. This year he won his first ATP title in Umag and reached the quarter final at the US Open. The list of accolades also features the 2014 French Open Junior title, a bronze medal in singles and a silver in doubles at the 2014 Summer Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, the doubles title at the 2015 Kremlin Cup in Moscow.
“Kafelnikov and Safin are such big stars. I am very proud to be compared to them. They are a source of inspiration for our our future career. My aim is to reach similar results that can be compared to what Kafelnikov and Safin did in the past. I hope that people will talk about a new winning generation of Russian tennis”.
Rublev started his campaign at the ATP Next Gen Finals in Milan with a five-set win over Italian Gianluigi Quinzi in the inaugural day of the year-end tournament. The young Russian player was asked about his opinion on the new rules introduced for the ATP Next Gen Final.
“The idea of this tournament is to bring tennis into the future. I agree with the new concept to introduce new rules and to present a new tennis for a new generation of fans”
Rublev was born in Moscow on 20th October 1997 to Andrey Rublev Sr., a former boxer who works as restaurateur, and Marina Marenko, who trained Anna Kournikova. His sister is also a tennis coach.
“My father was a boxer and I have always liked boxing training, as this sport teaches discipline. Now I have no time to dedicate my time on boxing, because I am very busy with tennis. My other great passion is basketball. I am a big fan of NBA and Miami Heat is my favourite team. I also enjoy listening to music. My favourite bands include Metallica, AC/DC and Nautilius Pompilius. I like action-packed films with fighting”
Andrey clinched his first win against a top-10 player when he beat Grigor Dimitrov in straight sets in the second round at the 2017 US Open and went on to beat David Goffin in the fourth round to qualify for the quarter final. He credits his development to his training in Barcelona under the guidance of Fernando Vicente, who coached Marcel Granollers in the past.
“It was very tough to leave Russia but it was a necessary step in my career to continue my development”, said Rublev.
Vicente reached a career-high of world number 29 in June 2000, won three singles titles, reached the quarter finals in Rome in 1998 and Cincinnati 2000. After retiring from tennis Vicente worked with Marcel Granollers from 2010 to 2014 guiding him to seven ATP titles (three in sinles and four in doubles). Vicente founded the 4 Slam Slam Tennis Academy with another top Spanish coach Galo Blanco, who trains another Next Gen player Karen Khachanov, who is playing in Milan this week.
“Andrey is very focused when he is on a tennis court but outside tennis he is a very smiling and enjoyable guy. He likes having fun. I have always appreciated these aspects of his character since I started working with him”, said Vicente.
Rublev is the namesake of famous Russian painter Andrey Rublev, one of the greatest meieveal Russian painters of Orhodox icons.
“I have always been curious about this coincidence of names. I don’t paint but I read some intereseting information on this painter by reading some books and I know that a film on his life was made. I am interested in culture in general and I would like to visit the Scala theatre here in Milan”, commented Andrey Rublev.
