Game. Set. History: Elena Rybakina powers past Jabeur to become first Kazakh player to win Wimbledon
LONDON, July 9
Moscow-born Elena Rybakina rallied from a set down to defeat Tunisia’s world No. 2 Ons Jabeur 3-6 6-2 6-2 in an entertaining final today to become the first player from Kazakhstan to win a Grand Slam singles title at Wimbledon.
It’s special because I was super nervous before the match (and) during it and I’m honestly happy that it is over. I’ve never felt something like this Elena Rybakina
With Russian and Belarussian players banned from the grasscourt Major following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, Rybakina would have been excluded from this year’s Wimbledon had she not switched allegiance from Russia four years ago.
But even if the repeated questions on her links to Russia during the past fortnight impacted Rybakina mentally, it did not have any discernable impact on the 23-year-old’s game.
In a final featuring two first-time Grand Slam finalists for the first time since 1962, it was the lanky Rybakina who lifted the Venus Rosewater Dish after another power-packed performance to become the fifth different women’s champion in as many editions at the All England Club.
Before the final, Rybakina and Jabeur had met three times and both players had won a match apiece before the Moscow-born Rybakina retired due to illness in Chicago in their last showdown a year ago. — Reuters
1 Both the finalists were the first players from their respective countries to feature in a Grand Slam singles final
23 At 23, the Kazakhstani power player is the youngest champion to lift the Venus Rosewater Dish since Petra Kvitova in 2011.
5 Rybakina has become the fifth different women’s champion in as many editions at the All England Club.
11 With the loss, Jabeur’s 11-match winning streak came to a halt. Also, the Tunisian’s bid to become the first African woman and Arab player to win a Slam in the Open era ended.
1 This was the first women’s title match since 1962 Club between two players who were making their debuts in a Major final.
