"We took him to the psychologist": Andrey Rublev’s coach reveals struggles with mental health

Fernando Vicente, Andrey Rublev’s coach, spoke about the Russian’s battle with depression and mental health challenges. According to the Spanish coach, Rublev attended therapy several times a week to seek help.

The world No. 8 managed to finish the year in the top 10 for the fifth consecutive season, despite a challenging year both on and off the court. The Russian often displayed bouts of anger, breaking rackets and even facing disqualification at the Dubai Open earlier this year. During the semifinals against Alexander Bublik, Rublev yelled angrily at a ball kid, an outburst that led to his disqualification.

The 27-year-old has frequently shown a fiery temperament on the court, though it has occasionally spiraled out of control. A few months ago, Rublev openly shared his struggles with mental health, a topic his coach Fernando Vicente also touched on this time.

"We tried to be close to him, to support him. We went to the psychologist three times a week, where the conversation revolved around Rublev remembering where he was when it all started and the heights he has managed to reach. This is a normal situation. As a coach, I also face many problems throughout the year," Vicente said.

The former Spanish player has been working with Rublev since 2017 and has been instrumental in his rise on the Tour. Vicente assessed the end of his protégé’s season, acknowledging that some physical issues complicated Rublev’s performance despite his immense motivation to compete.

"It's been a crazy season. Before the Chinese swing, he had a problem with a testicle. The doctor begged him not to go, but Andrey wanted to. Then he had a problem in the abdominal area and could hardly serve," Vicente added. "Andrey is crazy, in the good sense of the word. He always wants to train: Monday, Saturday, Sunday, it doesn't matter. I have to kick him off the court. I'm glad to train a player like that."

The coach also addressed Rublev’s on-court behaviour, giving it a score of ‘4/10.’ "He suffered a lot mentally and experienced behavioural problems. I would give his behaviour on the court this year a four out of ten. We remember what happened at the Dubai tournament when he was disqualified. Rublev could not cope with the consequences of this," Vicente said.