Elena Rybakina. Photo: Sebastien Bozon/AFP via Getty Images
Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina won her country's first Grand Slam singles title, beating Tunisia's Ons Jabeur 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 at Wimbledon in the women's final on Saturday.
The big picture: Wimbledon banned Russian and Belarussian athletes from the tournament in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine, but Rybakina, who is Russian-born, was the one holding the Venus Rosewater Dish on Centre Court.
- Rybakina was born in and played for Russia until 2018 when she switched federations for financial backing.
- When asked this week if she still feels Russian, Rybakina said "it’s a tough question."
Details: Both Rybakina and Jabeur were playing for history on Saturday.
- Jabeur, who won the first set, was looking to become the first Arab woman and first player from Africa to win a Grand Slam.
- The Tunisian was already the first from her country to win a WTA singles title and reach the Top 10, and entered Wimbledon at a career-high world No. 2.
- Rybakina, 23, is the youngest player to reach the women's singles final at Wimbledon in seven years, since Spain's Garbine Muguruza in 2015.