Elena Rybakina comes from a lower set to win her first individual Grand Slam title … with the Moscow-born Kazakhstan star breaking world No. 2 Ons Jabeur twice in the second and third sets.
- Elena Rybakina came from behind to win her first individual Grand Slam title
- He beat Tunisia’s No. 2, Ons Jabeur, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 on a hot central court.
- Rybakina’s appearance in the final had been confiscated by Russian authorities
- The heat that will attract your victory because of your birthplace is likely to be intense
By Nick Harris for MailOnline
Posted: 12:00, July 9, 2022 | Updated: 4:23 PM, July 9, 2022
Elena Rybakina made a glorious story for Kazakhstan on the center court on Saturday when she won her first individual Grand Slam title for both herself and the adopted nation she now represents.
The 23-year-old came from behind to beat Tunisia’s world number 2, Ons Jabeur, by 3-6, 6-2, 6-2, under a scorching sun. However, the heat that will attract his victory now, through no fault of his own, is likely to be intense in the extreme.
With the banning of players from Russia and Belarus from attending these championships by the All England Club – in effect, as a show of solidarity with Ukraine – Rybakina’s appearance in the final had been taken advantage of by the authorities. Russians as a possible bloody nose for the West.
Rybakina was born in Moscow, raised in Moscow, has a home in Moscow, and this victory is now claimed by Moscow, specifically Vladimir Putin’s propaganda machine. Rybakina became Kazakh in 2018 after receiving lucrative assistance to do so.
A pre-match headline on the pro-Putin website Russia Today (RT) said: “Elena Rybakina: Meet the Russian star who points to the glory of Wimbledon.” The RT article said that a victory for Rybakina “could herald a somewhat uncomfortable time for Wimbledon, and even for the British royal family”.
Reference was made to the royal family because the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, was at Wimbledon to watch the final and make post-match presentations.
This is not the result the All England Club would have wanted or could have realistically expected. And at the end of a first set where Rybakina was as composed as a giraffe on a skating rink, it didn’t seem likely.
Jabeur left her speechless with breaks in the third and ninth games of the opening. Rybakina could not get any of his characteristic aces and made unforced errors.
Jabeur hoped to make history herself as the first woman on the African continent, as well as the first Arab woman, to win an individual Slam title. But after breaking up in the first game of the second set, it was her game that broke down, and when she also broke up in the first game of the third, she broke up as well.
Before the match, the president of the Russian Tennis Federation, Shamil Tarpischev, had said: “It is a pleasure for Elena to play the Wimbledon final, it is our product. Of course we will encourage her.”
The player herself had made it clear that she was here to represent Kazakhstan and that she wanted the Russian war in Ukraine to end.
Some elements of the Russian media have been describing Rybakina as Russian, not to mention that she now represents Kazakhstan.
An RT article said: “The controversial decision taken by the All England Club to oust players from Russia and Belarus from this year’s event, which sparked the fury of the WTA and the ATP, was taken in part with the intention of ruling out a headache in public relations of celebrating a victorious Russian athlete in the midst of the country’s military action in Ukraine, for which the West expressed its contempt with a series of financial and – yes – sports sanctions .
“However, a Moscow-born tennis star is on the verge of achieving a historic achievement on the pristine turf that the All England Club hoped would be free of Russian influence, even if that propaganda was largely generated, and even amplified, by its own.
‘The cherry on top of the saga? The Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, will be tasked with handing over the trophy to the winner at a time when Buckingham Palace press officers will no doubt look nervously with their fingers. “
The Duchess did it properly, which will no doubt be captured by the Kremlinm, which is a shame for all involved.
Follow the Sportsmail live blog for the 2022 Wimbledon women’s final between Elena Rybakina and Ons Jabeur.