Jul 9, 2022 - Sports

Wimbledon 2022: Elena Rybakina wins Kazakhstan's first Grand Slam

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.
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