Elena Rybakina

Elena Rybakina, a Russian until switching nationality to Kazakhstan in 2018, won the title at a Wimbledon that banned Russian players from entry.

She even put a picture of the trophy as her phone’s lock screen background. “It is therefore our intention, with deep regret, to decline entries from Russian and Belarusian players to The Championships 2022.” Rybakina didn’t take a similar leap in 2021, though she did beat Serena Williams during a French Open quarterfinal run. Jabeur said after losing in the Wimbledon quarterfinals last year that she would win the title this year. Rybakina eventually found her footing, breaking Jabeur to start the second set, and carried that momentum through. “I was just trying to keep myself calm.

Elena Rybakina came from a set down to win her Wimbledon final against Ons Jabeur and claim her first grand slam title.

Ever since people would laugh at the nine-year-old who would speak loudly of her intention to win grand slams, everything she has achieved has been the result of a gradual evolution. There may be no ranking points on offer this year, Rybakina will fall to 23rd place even though under normal circumstances she would have risen to a new ranking of around sixth, but this is a priceless victory and she has made the step up. After Rybakina took the second set, the crowd continually tried to animate Jabeur and as she trailed 2-3, she responded, generating three break points at 0-40 with a wondrous lob. Rybakina swiftly began to play on her terms, bullying Jabeur from on top of the baseline, and the Tunisian became far too tight herself. As cries of “yalla” and “allez” rang out for Jabeur, the first Arab player and African woman to reach a grand slam singles final in the Open era, Jabeur was determined to disrupt Rybakina with her complex, varied game. Instead, the pandemic struck and upon the resumption of the tour Rybakina struggled to find her way.

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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It was an overall awkward match, from on court against Ons Jabeur to off-court politics that hung over Centre Court for a fortnight.

But she was able to play because she received funding from the Kazakhstan federation and changed her nationality. She was aiming to be the first Arab woman and first African woman to win a major title. Throughout the tournament, she has been measured and diplomatic when asked about the situation, likely aware of how politically charged it all was. Down 3-2 in the set, Jabeur used a drop shot and a well-placed lob to go up 40-love on Rybakina’s serve. People within the tennis world already knew she was a charming player and person who was also well-liked by players. Sometimes, a player is too good, you get blown off the court and all you can do is tip your cap to them and realize it just wasn’t your day.

The celebration was subdued, hardly a spike in emotions. But the day Elena Rybakina and Ons Jabeur met on Centre Court will be remembered as a day of tennis ...

Her win over Jabeur was just her third against a top 20-ranked player on grass -- the second was against Simona Halep in the semifinals. But in those second and third sets -- form and logic went out the window, and Rybakina was at her best, just like she was when she dispatched Halep in the semifinals. Jabeur was the first Arab woman to reach a Slam final, and the first from Africa since pro players were admitted to the major tournaments in 1968. But Rybakina found her rhythm and range, and Jabeur had no answers, the roles reversed. I just want to wish Eid Mubarak to Muslims all around the world." "It was such a tough match mentally and physically, so in the end I was just super happy that it finished. As the presentation was being arranged, she stayed in her seat. Jabeur was the overwhelming crowd favorite. For the past two weeks she has picked her way through the draw, but the questions she faced were as much about her tournament run as they were heritage. But it was near the end of the news conference when they pushed through, after she was asked what that victory would mean for her parents. "You wanted to see emotion," she said, tears on her cheeks. As Ons Jabeur pushed the forehand wide, sealing Rybakina's first Grand Slam, she clenched her left fist in celebration in the direction of her box.

Rybakina's victory at Wimbledon was deeply impressive but not the outcome that most in Centre Court or on the payrolls of the All England Club were yearning ...

The history, all those ghosts on the grass, can hit a player hard as they try to join the club. “It was good for my career,” said Shvedova of the switch. How do you convincingly paint Rybakina’s success as a bright and shiny tale of Russian triumph when it was Russia’s lack of support for her career that ultimately caused her to switch allegiances? She was already wearing her purple badge as a new member of the All England Club on Saturday night. “The Russians absolutely were questioning why, why, why. (Britain has had plenty of imports, including the former Canadian star Greg Rusedski and the former Australian Johanna Konta.) I saw the flags, so I don’t know how to answer these questions.” Thank God the Kazakhstan federation has been supporting her.” She is a Russian who was born, raised and, until this year, based in Moscow, where her parents and many of her closest friends still reside. Wimbledon, after all, has barred players who represent Russia, not players who used to represent Russia. And though Shamil Tarpischev, the longtime president of the Russian Tennis Federation, claimed “we have won Wimbledon” to a Russian state media outlet on Saturday night, that certainly rings hollow. The move came after pressure from the British government led by outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who has had a much worse weekend than Jabeur has had. But Rybakina’s arrival comes at an awkward moment for those with Russian connections.

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

Jabeur needed to find a way to cut down on her mistakes and came close to changing the course of things while down 3-2 in the third. Now she was just a game away from the biggest victory of her career — and she got to serve for it. The hold there made it 4-2, and Rybakina quickly broke again. When another forehand went awry, Jabeur broke at love to take the opening set, yelled "Yalla!" — Arabic for "Let's go!" — and threw an uppercut as she walked to the sideline. By the match's third game, Jabeur was reading Rybakina's serves and creating fewer inviting opportunities for baseline power. She was born in Moscow and has represented Kazakhstan since 2018, when that country offered her funding to support her tennis career. Her play early on betrayed some jitters, too, which makes sense considering it was her debut in a Grand Slam title match. I hope they're listening." A volley into the net tape with the full court wide open. "She deserved this. Not much of a look around.

Elena Rybakina had some long-term goals, and she had some boxes to check at Wimbledon. She ended up checking a really big box.

Despite the milestone victory -- and collecting a $2.4 million paycheck -- Rybakina won't see her efforts rewarded in the rankings. Born and raised in Russia, she switched federations in 2018 -- Kazakhstan was formerly part of the Soviet Union and sits on the Russian border -- in order to gain additional funding for her career. As Russian and Belarusian players were banned from participating at Wimbledon this year because of the ongoing invasion of Ukraine, Rybakina has repeatedly been asked about her allegiances and current ties to her home country. It was a staggering turnaround, and she never allowed Jabeur a chance to get back into the match and almost completely silenced the crowd in the process. In the final game of the set, she won every point on her serve, and sealed the set with an ace. When she returned to the court for the second set, she looked like a new player -- with an answer for everything Jabeur sent her way.