Wimbledon: Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina clinches title
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Wimbledon: Becoming the first tennis player from Kazakhstan to win a Grand Slam singles championship, Elena Rybakina beat Ons Jabeur 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 in the Wimbledon final on Saturday, Associated Press reported.
Rybakina weaponized her big serve and powerful forehand against Jabeur's mix of spins and slices. The loss has ended Jabeur's 12-match winning streak, which came entirely on grass courts.
The match was the first women's title match since 1962 at the All England Club between two players who were making their debuts in a major final.
The 23-year-old Russian-born, Ryabakina has been representing Kazakhstan since 2018 after the country offered her funding and support for her career in tennis. The switch has been a topic of conversation during Wimbledon because The All England Club barred all players who represent Russia or Belarus from entering the tournament because of the war in Ukraine.
Rybakina is ranked world No.23. Only Venus Williams, who was ranked at No 31, had won Wimbledon, being ranked lower than No.23. Venus's mention victory was in 2007. But she was No.1 before that and had already won three of her five career trophies at the All England Club.