Rublev breezes into second round as Safin influence begins to take hold
Andrey Rublev secured a clinical straight-sets victory over Matteo Arnaldi to open his Australian Open campaign, setting up a second-round clash with Portuguese qualifier Jaime Faria while praising the relaxed influence of new coach Marat Safin.
Andrey Rublev, 2026 | © Imago / PsNewz
Andrey Rublev produced a masterclass in power tennis to defeat Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi 6-4, 6-2, 6-3, successfully navigating an opening-round hurdle that had tripped him up just twelve months ago. Having suffered a first-round exit in 2025 (against Fonseca), the thirteenth seed entered Melbourne Park with no points to defend and played with the freedom of a man with everything to gain.
The three-time Australian Open quarterfinalist appeared in peak physical condition, striking thirty-six winners and breaking Arnaldi’s serve five times in a match that lasted just under two hours.
The victory also served as the official Grand Slam debut of a high-profile partnership between Rublev and former world No. 1 Marat Safin. Safin, who famously won the Australian Open in 2005, joined Rublev’s corner in April 2025 and has spent the last month overseeing an intense training block.
When asked about Safin’s specific role – whether tactical, technical, or routine-based – Rublev provided a characteristically candid assessment of the legend’s presence: “I don’t know to be honest. He brings chill, relax.”
Faria next : “don’t know the guy”
Rublev’s next challenge comes in the form of Portuguese qualifier Jaime Faria, who has emerged as one of the standout stories of the first week. Faria navigated a perfect qualifying campaign to reach the main draw, defeating Croatia’s Luka Mikrut (7-6, 7-5), Lebanon’s Benjamin Hassan (6-3, 6-4), and Argentina’s Marco Trungelliti (7-6, 6-3) without dropping a single set. Despite Faria’s momentum and his recent four-set win over Alexander Blockx in the opening round, Rublev admitted that he remains completely draw-agnostic. When asked if he knew much about his next opponent, Rublev replied:
“Uhh.. I don’t know who I’m playing because I didn’t check the draw. You told me the name and I still don’t know the guy.”
Currently ranked world No. 15, Rublev looks to be recapturing the “massive tennis” that has seen him reach ten career Grand Slam quarterfinals. For Faria, the second-round meeting represents the biggest match of his young career, while for Rublev, it is simply the next step in a quest to finally break through his quarterfinal ceiling under the watchful, “chill” eye of Safin.
