WIMBLEDON, England — Too nervous to wave, Elena Rybakina stepped out into the sunshine on Center Court ahead of Wimbledon’s final Saturday, clutching the black and red straps of the racket bag slung over her shoulders.
No wave. Not much to look around. Her play at the start also betrayed some trepidation, which makes sense given that it was her debut in a Grand Slam title match.
Nearly two hours of big swings and many sprints later, she won the All England Club championship with a 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 win over Ons Jabeur – the first major singles trophy for her adopted country of Kazakhstan.
Even then, Rybakina’s reaction was as subdued as possible, a slight sigh, a slight smile.
“I’m glad it’s over, to be honest,” the 23-year-old said, “because I’ve never really felt anything like this.”
She was born in Moscow and has represented Kazakhstan since 2018, when the country offered her funding to support her tennis career. The switch was the talk of the town at Wimbledon because it barred any players representing Russia or Belarus from entering the tournament due to the war in Ukraine.
Since the WTA computer rankings began in 1975, only one woman ranked lower than No. 23 Rybakina has won Wimbledon – Venus Williams in 2007 at No. 31, even though she was No. 1 and had already won three of her five the Wimbledon trophy in his career.
Rybakina used her big serve and powerful forehand to overcome the varied style of No. 2 Jabert, with a combination of spins and slices to end the 27-year-old Tunisian’s 12-year winning streak, which came entirely on grass courts.
“You have an amazing game and I don’t think we have anyone like that on tour,” Rybakina told Jabeur during the trophy ceremony after the match, before adding the following line: “I ran so much today, so no I don’t think that I need to do more fitness, honestly.
Jabeur is also making his first Grand Slam final.
“She deserved this. Hopefully, the next time will be mine,” said Jabert, whose exuberance on the court and persona off it earned her the nickname “Minister of Happiness.”
“Elena stole my title,” Jaber joked, “but it’s okay.”
By the third game of the match, Jabert was reading Rybakina’s serves and creating less attractive power opportunities from the baseline. A squash-style forehand pulled a forehand into the net to earn a break point, which Jabeur converted to take a 2-1 lead by unleashing a 120mph serve, then saw Rybakina serve a long backhand.
Jaber turned to his guest box, jumped up and shouted.
Rybakina’s mistakes are increasing. A volley into the net in a wide open field. Netting forehand after Jabeur barely got a short return. When another forehand went awry, Jabeur broke to love to take the opening set, shouted “Yalla!” “Arabic for ‘Let’s go!'” and threw an uppercut as he walked toward the sideline.
Jabeur was trying to become the first Arab or African woman to win a Slam singles title in the professional era, which dates back to 1968.
“I love this tournament very much. I feel really sad. But that’s tennis. There is only one winner,” Jaber said. “I am really happy that I am trying to inspire many generations from my country. I hope they are listening.
Rybakina, who defeated Serena Williams at the French Open last year, finally won her first break chance to start the second set and led 1-0 when Jabert missed a forehand. After saving four break points in her next two service games, Rybakina broke again and soon led 5-1.
Jaber leads the women’s tournament with 13 wins in three sets this season, but Rybakina came out much stronger in the decider.
She broke once more to start the third and went up 3-1.
Jabeur had to find a way to cut down on his mistakes and came close to turning things around while trailing 3-2 in the third. She used a pair of points, which she won via a drop shot and a lob at love-40 on Rybakina’s serve.
But Rybakina erased those three break points and took the game, aided by several 119 mph serves. The hold there made it 4-2 and Rybakina quickly broke through again. Now she was just a game away from the biggest win of her career – and she had to serve for it.
That game started with a 117 mph ace off Rybakina’s red racket. It ended with Jaber missing a rebound.
Every apprehension, every anxiety felt by Rybakina could disappear. Soon she was scaling the green wall to the front row seats to walk through the bleachers for hugs with her coach, her sister and others.
Now she was and forever will be Wimbledon champion.
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