By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Wednesday February 26, 2025
Andrey Rublev has never been shy when it comes to opening up about mental health issues. In our sport, the Russian is one of the man who has been to the bottom, psychologically speaking, but he is an inspiration because he has continually sought to better himself through experience.
A year after a career low point, one which saw Rublev defaulted from a match in Dubai because of an on-court meltdown, the Russian can celebrate the strides he is making.
These days Rublev writes the word “responsibility” on his shoe before matches so he can constantly be reminded of an important tenet.
“So, in the end doesn’t matter what’s happening in your life, it’s only your fault, no one else,” Rublev Explains. “You cannot blame anything or anyone. I guess this is kind of to remind myself to not complain.”
I guess so because in end is everything connected. It’s all about balance in everywhere. It does not matter. If you’re not balanced with yourself, you will be not balanced. Doesn’t matter. Everything will go apart.
A Negative Loop
Rublev explained how low he went, into depression and self-loathing, over a period of several years, and credited conversations with former World No.1 Marat Safin for helping him find his way out.
“I was just kind of in a loop lost with myself for a couple of years of, I don’t know, not finding the way, not understanding what to do, what for.,” he said. “I don’t know, sounds a bit maybe dramatic or whatever, like what the reason or purpose to live like that or stuff like that. … Just completely lost. Let’s put it this way, completely lost with myself and that’s it.
“The thing is one thing when it’s happening one, month, two months, three months. Maybe you still have patience or something. But when it happens one year, two year, three year, four year, five. When it’s coming for many, many years, in one moment you cannot take it anymore. It’s like one pain that start to grow more and more and more and more, and you want to cut the arm and that’s it. So it was like this.”
Rublev says he tried antidepressants but after a year he realized that he wasn’t making the type of progress he wanted.
“I just stopped to take them, and that’s it,” he said.
That’s when Safin stepped in and helped him look at himself in the mirror.
“Then with the help of Marat, he kind of make me understand myself or look at myself, let’s put it that way. That’s it. That was kind of a bit of restart from the bottom. Then from there, at least I was able little by little to start to move in a better direction. Now I’m moving little by little in this better direction.”
Fitting then that Rublev is back winning ATP titles again. His willingness to have those hard conversations and share his struggles with the public has made him an inspiration to others who struggle, either publicly or inwardly.
Paula Badosa, whose well-documented struggles with mental health have been inspiring as well, took to social media to praise Rublev.
So much respect for you,” she wrote in reply to a video of Rublev’s press conference. “Listening to all this really moves me and I know how much pain it is. This will only make you stronger at the end of the day. I’m glad you’re feeling better. Thanks for speaking up.”
Andrey Rublev: I was just kind of in a loop, lost with myself for a couple of years of, not finding the way, not understanding what to do, what for? Sounds a bit dramatic, like what’s the reason or purpose to live? I don’t know, just completely lost with myself (…) pic.twitter.com/b7x4PpP3F4
— Reem Abulleil (@ReemAbulleil) February 24, 2025
