Andrey Rublev gives his thoughts on changing coaches after latest Canadian Open win, ‘no one can teach you anything’

He is back in the quarter-finals this year, following a three-set victory over Washington Open finalist, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.

Rublev has managed to establish a solid infrastructure around him, having been with the same coach for almost a decade.

Rublev’s coaching consistency pales in comparison with the recent coaching changes being carried out en masse across the ATP and WTA Tours. In the last month Stefanos Tsitsipas has re-hired his father after parting ways with Goran Ivanisevic, Naomi Osaka has split with Patrick Mouratoglou, and there is continued uncertainty surrounding Emma Raducanu’s coaching situation.

In contrast, Andrey Rublev remains a symbol of stability in professional tennis, and he spoke about his relationship with coach Fernando Vicente in his most recent press conference.

Andrey Rublev says ‘no one can teach you anything’ at this level

Speaking to reporters after the match, Rublev was asked about his relationship with his coach, Fernando Vicente.

Rublev said: “Our relationship? It’s more than a player and coach. He’s a family member, and he will be, no matter what, for the rest of my life. Because he was there when I was completely alone. He was there for me, not seeing his family, sacrificing his family to spend time with me.

“Yeah, we are super good together. We have amazing connection. He’s super funny. We can be super open about everything with each other.

“It’s kind of a relationship, I don’t know. I was really liking that I was able to find someone that he’s super good at tennis, he’s super talented in tennis as a coach, as a player, and on top of that, like a human being, he’s one of the best I’ve ever met.”

Rublev was then asked to explain the advantages of staying with one coach for a long time. The Russian and Vicente have worked together since 2016.

Rublev replied: “Advantages? Advantages is that he’s one of the best coaches that I ever met, and I was lucky to have him.

“And then the other thing is, like I said, like a person. He doesn’t work for money, he doesn’t have any interest. He just wants to help because he love me. And we get already, like I said, like we are family members, and that’s it.

“So he have no interests. He have a lot of humanity inside. He’s super kind. He’s doing a lot of things for me that normally, when you hire someone as a coach or something, half of the coaches they don’t do those things.

“He is doing a lot of things outside of the court, outside of the tennis. Yeah, it’s different, and that’s it. And I know at the end he give me everything to be able to be at my best, and it’s about me.

“It doesn’t matter how many coaches you’re going to change. At this level, when you are top 10, okay, maybe there is someone who, the players who won a lot of slams, they can give some advice how to, what you need to do at these levels to achieve that moment.

“But overall, no one can teach you anything, you are the one who can help you. Doesn’t matter how much coaches you change, you’re the one who is playing.

“So if you always look for help, in the end you’re not going to grow.”

Who is Fernando Vicente?

Fernando Vicente has worked with Andrey Rublev for almost a decade, helping the Russian star to establish himself as one of the best ATP Tour players around.

The Spaniard reached number 29 in the world for singles as a professional player. He won three singles titles after turning professional in 1996.

Vicente had already begun coaching Marc Lopez and Marcel Granollers when he retired from tennis in 2011. The now-established coach worked with Lopez and Granollers from 2010 to 2014.

Under the tutelage of Vicente, Rublev has won 17 ATP Tour titles, including two ATP Masters 1000 titles in Monte-Carlo and Madrid.

At the Canadian Open, Rublev faces second seed Taylor Fritz in the quarter-finals. Fritz won a marathon three-set match against Jiri Lehecka in the fourth round: each set was won on a tiebreak.