Kazakhstan

Jabeur had aimed to become the first player from the Arab world and the first African woman to win a Slam singles title.

“I love this tournament. “She deserved this. I think you are an inspiration for everybody.

Rybakina is a 23-year-old who was born in Moscow and has represented Kazakhstan since 2018, when that country offered her funding to support her tennis ...

Now she was just a game away from the biggest victory of her career — and she got to serve for it. Jabeur appeared to give herself an opportunity to really change the course of things while down 3-2 in the third. She broke once more to begin the third, and went up 3-1. When another forehand went awry, Jabeur broke at love to take the opening set and threw an uppercut as she walked to the sideline. Rybakina is a 23-year-old who was born in Moscow and has represented Kazakhstan since 2018, when that country offered her funding to support her tennis career. There were glimpses of both in the opening game, including a 119 mph service winner on the match’s initial point.

The 23-year-old is bringing her adopted country its first singles trophy at a major tournament.

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Elena Rybakina has defeated Ons Jabeur 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 in the Wimbledon final to become the first tennis player from Kazakhstan to win a Grand Slam singles ...

"I didn't know what to do. There was one last crucial moment: Jabeur, who uses as many spins and slices and variety as anyone in the game, parlayed a drop shot and a lob into love-40 on Rybakina's serve. "I mean, it's just something I will never forget." "She started to be more aggressive. Rybakina was born in Moscow and has represented Kazakhstan since 2018, when that country offered her funding to support her tennis career. "I didn't play my best tennis, let's say, second and third set," said Jabeur, who leads the women's tour with 13 victories in three-setters this year. This was the first Wimbledon women's final since 1962 between a pair of players both making a debut in a Grand Slam title match, and Rybakina acknowledged being nervous at the start. — and threw an uppercut as she walked to the sideline. "I hope they're not really disappointed, but I'll try my best next time." A volley into the net tape with the full court wide open. Instead, Rybakina kept a firm double-grip on the black-and-red straps of the racket bag slung over her shoulders. They were not on hand Saturday; she had not spoken to them yet.

Russian-born champion was able to compete at Wimbledon thanks to her switch of national allegiance in 2018.

She is just speaking the truth, there is nothing to hide, you know? “This is the least of the problems – obviously, there are bigger problems. She has played Fed Cup for them and represented her country at the Olympics. When she eventually gets back to Kazakhstan, if she was not already famous, with the Wimbledon trophy in her bag, she undoubtedly will be now. And hopefully all around the world people are going to start recognising her.” Rybakina went into the final as the underdog and many people expected it to be Jabeur to be the history-maker. At the end, when she offered no celebration and just puffed out her cheeks instead, the enormity of her achievements hardly seemed to register.

Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan celebrates with the trophy after victory against Ons Jabeur of Tunisia during. Julian Finney/Getty Images. A new Wimbledon champion ...

Then in her press conference after the match, she was asked for her opinion on Russia’s invasion on Ukraine and if she condemned the war. She begged off saying she didn’t understand the question due to her limited English, adding: “For my part I can only say I am representing Kazakhstan. I didn’t choose where I was born. “I think most of the time, I spend on tour. She basically didn’t outwardly react after Jabuer’s forehand sailed wide on the final point and cracked only a few smiles on the court post-match, explaining later that the win was “shocking” and she was trying to stay calm. Rybakina was born in Moscow and trained under the Russian Tennis Federation until 2018 when they cut her loose. Ahead of Wimbledon this year, tournament officials decided to ban any players from Russia and Belarus from competing in the tournament following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The All England Club, with all its stuffy pomp and patriotic circumstance couldn’t very well have the Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton handing over the trophy to a Russian, could they?