Elena Rybakina made glorious history for Kazakhstan on Center Court on Saturday, winning a first Grand Slam singles title for both herself and the adopted nation she now represents.
The 23-year-old came from behind to beat Tunisian world No2 Ons Jabeur, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2, under bright sunshine. Yet the heat her victory will now attract, through no fault of her own, is likely to be extremely intense.
With players from Russia and Belarus banned from these championships by the All England Club – in effect in solidarity with Ukraine – Rybakina’s appearance at the final was seen by Russian authorities as a potential nosebleed for the West.
Elena Rybakina made glorious history for Kazakhstan by winning her first Grand Slam title
The Duchess of Cambridge presented the trophy to the Moscow-born Kazakh star
It is a first Grand Slam singles title for both her and the adopted nation she represents
The 23-year-old came from behind to beat Tunisian world No.2 Ons Jabeur (R) 3-6, 6-2, 6-2
Rybakina was born in Moscow, grew up in Moscow, has a home in Moscow, and this victory is now being claimed by Moscow, specifically by Vladimir Putin’s propaganda machine. Rybakina became a Kazakh citizen in 2018 after she was offered a beneficial aid to do so.
A pre-match headline on the pro-Putin website Russia Today (RT) read: “Elena Rybakina: Meet the Russian star aiming for Wimbledon glory.” The RT article said a Rybakina victory “could portend a bit of an awkward moment for Wimbledon — and even for the British royal family.”
The royals were named because the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, was at Wimbledon to watch the final and make the post-match presentations.
This is not the result that the All England Club would want or could realistically expect. And at the end of the first set, in which Rybakina was as calm as a giraffe in a skating pond, that didn’t seem likely.
Jaber blew away Rybakina with a break in the third and ninth games of the first set
But after being broken in the first game of the second set, her game fell apart
Jabeur blew her with a break in the third and ninth games of the first match. Rybakina was unable to land any of her saved aces and made plenty of unforced errors.
Jabeur hoped to make history as the first woman from the African continent as well as the first Arab woman to win a Slam singles title.
But after being broken in the first game of the second set, her game fell apart, and when she was also broken in the first game of the third, she was also broken.
Ahead of the match, the president of the Russian Tennis Federation Shamil Tarpishchev said: “It is good that Elena will play in the Wimbledon final, she is our product. Of course we will applaud her.
The toy herself made it clear that she was here to represent Kazakhstan, and that she wanted Russia’s war in Ukraine to end.
The toy itself made it clear that it was here to represent Kazakhstan, not Russia
She was much more accurate with her forehand and backhand in the second set
Some elements of the Russian media describe Rybakina as Russian without even mentioning that she now represents Kazakhstan.
An RT article said: “The controversial decision by the All England Club to ban players from Russia and Belarus from this year’s event, which has drawn the ire of the WTA and ATP, was partly made with the intention of ruling out a links headache with the public celebrating a victorious Russian athlete amid the country’s hostilities in Ukraine, for which the West has expressed its disdain with a series of financial and – yes – sporting sanctions.
“Nevertheless, a Moscow-born tennis star is on the verge of a historic achievement on the clean turf that the All England Club hoped would be free of Russian influence, even if such propaganda was largely generated and even amplified by their cause.”
“The cherry on top of the saga? The Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, will be tasked with handing the trophy to the winner in a moment Buckingham Palace press will no doubt be watching nervously.
The Duchess duly did, which will no doubt be seized by the Kremlin, a shame for all involved.
She also started reading Jabeur’s dropshots and was able to send some delightful winners
The heat her victory will now attract, through no fault of her own, is likely to be intense
Relive Sportsmail’s live blog of the 2022 Wimbledon Women’s Final between Elena Rybakina and Ons Jabert from KISHAN VAGHELA.
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