Andrey Rublev takes responsibility of rebuilding his career

Dubai: Andrey Rublev has never been the one to hide his emotions. His fiery temperament has thrilled fans and frustrated him in equal measure, but beneath the outbursts lay a deeper battle — one that even medication couldn’t fix. Depression, self-doubt, and a crumbling sense of purpose threatened to derail his career.

Now, with the help of Marat Safin and a single word scrawled on his shoe — responsibility — Rublev is fighting back. Fresh off a Doha title, the Russian is determined to turn a new page in Dubai.

A journey of acceptance and growth

Struggles are an inevitable part of an athlete’s life, both externally and internally. But for Rublev, the two were deeply intertwined. His frustrations on the court mirrored the battles within, and no matter how hard he tried, there was no escaping them — not from fans, not from rivals, and certainly not from himself.

Years of emotional turmoil culminated in a first-round exit at the Australian Open to Brazilian debutant Joao Fonseca. It was a wake-up call. Determined to break free from the cycle, Rublev sought the guidance of former world No 1 Safin. The result? A new approach, a fresh mindset, and an immediate payoff in Doha.

With the help of Safin, Rublev began to control his emotions. He adopted a new mantra: responsibility — a word borrowed from American basketball superstar Stephen Curry. Rublev wrote it on his shoe as a constant reminder to keep his emotions in check.

“I’m putting that word there to remind myself that I’m the one. It’s not because of anything or anyone. If something bad or good happens to me, it’s not because of luck, but because I made a mistake (or did something right). You cannot blame anything or anyone, this is a reminder to myself not to complain.”

Rublev’s struggles deepened after his semi-final loss at the 2024 Dubai Tennis Championships. He became more forthcoming about his battle with depression.

“I was completely lost. I was thinking, what’s the purpose of living?” said Rublev, who has endured mental struggles for years. “The thing is, when it happens for a few months, you still have patience (that you can overcome it), but when it goes on for years, you feel you cannot take it anymore.”

“The main thing is to be honest with yourself. I was lying to myself about many things. I didn’t even want to understand or notice it. You need someone who can make you see yourself in an honest way,” the world No. 9 said.

“Marat made me understand myself. That was a bit of a restart from the bottom. From there, little by little, I started to move in a better direction,” he added. “I’m not in a good or a bad place (now), but I’m not feeling any more stress, I’m not feeling anxious, I’m not having depression. I’m just neutral. Not happy, not bad, but I have found a base, and that’s a beginning.”

Rublev begins his campaign in Dubai against French qualifier Quentin Halys on Tuesday, carrying fresh memories of last week’s hard-fought victory over Jack Draper in the three-set Qatar Open final in Doha.

Draper, the British No 1, has since pulled out of the Dubai tournament, opting to manage his body and focus on long-term fitness after a demanding run in Qatar. He has been replaced by Italian lucky loser Luca Nardi.

“Doha was an amazing week. It is a special one as it is the only tournament that I have won twice,” said Rublev, who has reached multiple Grand Slam quarter-finals but has yet to progress further. “Feeling great.”

Rublev is no longer the same player he was at the start of the year. The man who once raged against his inner struggles has learned to embrace them and, in doing so, has found a sense of peace on and off the court. As he steps into Dubai, he carries not just the weight of past losses but the promise of a renewed future. Whether this is the breakthrough he’s been searching for, only time will tell. But for now, Rublev is at peace with the journey, and that might be his greatest victory yet.