They didn’t want a Russian at Wimbledon, but in the end the organizers decorated the Russian winner. I’m happy to represent Kazakhstan, Rybakina reassured them

Tennis Wimbledon has a surprise winner. The women’s tournament was won by Kazakhstan’s Yelena Rybakina, who defeated Tunisia’s favourite Ons Dzhabour in the singles final. For the 23-year-old player, this is the biggest success in her career so far.

After the last game, when the Tunisian returned Rybakina’s serve into the net, it was not at all noticeable that the Kazakh player won a Grand Slam tournament for the first time in her career. It was as if Rybakina had won a practice match.

She just clenched her hand into a fist and calmly walked to the net to shake hands with her defeated final opponent. No cheering, no cheering, the Kazakhstani representative showed almost no joy. But inside she was understandably happy, just not showing her emotions.

Apparently, the tournament organizers were not too happy about her success either. Yelena Rybakina comes from Russia and this is only her fourth year representing Kazakhstan. The Moscow native simply created better conditions for her tennis development in the neighbouring country. Wimbledon organisers have banned Russian and Belarusian tennis players from the tournament.

Thus, Russian tennis player Medvedev could not come to London, even though he moved to France for tennis when he was young. Belarusian Azarenka, who lives in the USA, was also unable to compete.

Rybakina, however, is apparently a different case, according to the organisers. She does not represent Russia, but Kazakhstan. Still, the Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton probably did not imagine that she would be decorating a Russian-born tennis player.

The Russians are delighted with Rybakina’s success

Yelena Rybakina also had to face questions about her origins after every match. “Do you feel more like a Russian or a Kazakh?” she was constantly asked by journalists. No wonder she found such questions annoying over time.

“That’s a difficult question,” she mused. “What does it mean for you to feel?” she retorted to reporters at a press conference after advancing to the coveted final. “I mean, I play tennis, so I’m enjoying it here. I feel for the players who couldn’t come here, but I just enjoy playing here on the biggest stage. I’m just enjoying the time and trying to give my best,” the daily quoted Yelena Rybakina as saying.

However, the Wimbledon winner refused to say that she would represent her native country and instead confirmed that she was happy to play for Kazakhstan. However, the president of the Russian Tennis Federation, Shamil Tarpishchev, is happy about Rybakina’s success. “It is great that Jelena is in the Wimbledon final. She is our product. Of course, we will cheer for her,” he let himself be heard before the final.

But the fact is that Yelena Rybakina only became a top tennis player in Kazakhstan, where her tennis training is at a better level thanks to more financial support. In her native Russia, she first took up gymnastics and skating. However, little Yelena grew in height and so, thanks to her sister and parents, she switched to tennis. As a junior, however, she didn’t make much of a mark in Russia and a change of scenery helped her.

Source: The Daily