Remember when 21-year-old Diana Shnaider candidly shared on The Sit-Down podcast, “Outside people, of course, expect some great results because I’m a seeded player, I’m a top player, so yeah, for me I feel like it’s going to be maybe a tough year,”? Well, she wasn’t wrong! The Russian sensation had a standout 2024, capturing four WTA titles and breaking into the world’s top 15, peaking at 12th seed. But 2025 has posed new challenges, with her form dipping and plateauing. Adding to her troubles is her departure from coach Igor Andreev and a period of mentorship from her father, Maxim. But Shnaider is optimistic, still.

Despite competing in seven tournaments so far this season, Diana Shnaider is yet to reach a single QF in singles; one of her stronger performances was an R16 exit at the Stuttgart Open. Following the slew of disappointments, Shnaider made a bold move: bringing in former world top seed Dinara Safina as her new coach. And, recently, the 21-year-old opened up about the decision, expressing her eagerness to gain insight and guidance from someone who knows the highs and lows of the tour firsthand.

‘The Tennis Channel’ shared a candid video of 21-year-old Diana Shnaider, titled “Diana Shnaider has hired former World No. 1 Dinara Safina as her coach 👏🏼 How far can Dinara take Diana? ⬇️,” where she explained the decision to hire Safina as her coach. She said: “I feel like she just can give me some keys to the mental strength because she played by herself. She understands what type of pressure I’m feeling in the court. What I am dealing right now. So she can definitely give me some suggestions how to work on them of course on the court just some shifting moments because I feel like I’m doing good stuff on the court but sometimes just because I am overthinking, it’s just gets messy.” But there’s more.

Shnaider continued, “Of course shifting there and just maybe backhand or coming more to the net and some serves playing a little bit more variety, building more combinations I would say I would think more about the mental strength. I am very excited I mean she is a former world number one and I never worked with a woman who has gone with it all, so it’s going to be a first time experience for me,”

Dinara Safina, who stepped away from professional tennis back in 2011 because of a persistent lower back injury, is now making her return to the sport: this time as a coach. Following in the footsteps of her brother, former top seed Marat Safin, Safina is stepping into the coaching world with a deep well of experience and legacy behind her. Just last week, Marat teamed up with Russian top seed Andrey Rublev for the clay-court season, marking a unique sibling presence in coaching.

At 41, Safina brings a wealth of experience to the table. She was a finalist at Roland Garros in both 2008 and 2009, as well as the AO in 2009. She held the top ranking for 26 weeks in 2009 and boasts 12 WTA singles titles and an Olympic silver medal. So for Shnaider, working with Safina is more than just a coaching change; it’s a mentorship. Case in point: the 21-year-old recently revealed her admiration for Safina’s mental strength and accomplishments, sharing how the coaching partnership came to life with help from a mutual Russian connection who believed in the synergy between the two.

“We just got connected,” Diana Shnaider shared how she managed to hire Dinara Safina as her coach

Another day brings another headline-worthy coaching shake-up on tour. This time, it’s former world No. 1 Russian Dinara Safina stepping back into the tennis spotlight, teaming up trial with fellow Russian Diana Shnaider. The pairing came together thanks to an introduction by Russian legend Anastasia Myskina, who shares a close bond with Shnaider’s mother, Yulia, and works alongside Safina at the Russian sports channel “Bolshe!”

Shnaider, who just turned 21 last week, joined forces with Safina following her exit in Charleston and recently opened up about the budding partnership in an exclusive with “Tennis Channel”. “My mom connected with Myskina and said, ‘Hey, we are looking for a coach. Maybe you have some suggestion for who would be the right fit for Diana?’ She obviously knows me from a very young age. She got our number and shared [it] with Dinara, and then we just got connected,” Shnaider added.

Although the duo didn’t make a splash at Stuttgart as Shnaider fell in straight sets to Elise Mertens, many believe this collaboration could help unlock her true potential as the season unfolds. Do you think the same? Share your thoughts below!