Elena Rybakina made glorious history for Kazakhstan on Centre Court yesterday as she won a first ever Grand Slam singles title both for herself and her adopted nation.
The 23-year-old came from behind to beat Tunisia’s world No 2 Ons Jabeur, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2, under a blazing sun.
Yet the heat her win will now attract, through no fault of her own, is likely to be intense.
Elena Rybakina made glorious history for Kazakhstan by winning her maiden Grand Slam title
The Duchess of Cambridge presented the Moscow-born Kazakhstan star with the trophy
It is a first ever Grand Slam singles title both for herself and the adopted nation she represents
The 23-year-old came from behind to beat Tunisia’s world No2 Ons Jabeur (R) 3-6, 6-2, 6-2
With players from Russia and Belarus banned from these Championships by the All England Club as a show of solidarity with Ukraine, Rybakina’s appearance in the final had been seized upon by Russia’s authorities as a potential bloody nose for the West.
Rybakina was born in Moscow, raised in Moscow, has a home in Moscow, and this win will now be claimed by Moscow, specifically by Russian president Vladimir Putin’s propaganda machine.
Asked if she was concerned that Russia would try to politicise her win, she said: ‘I’ve been playing for Kazakhstan for a long time. I don’t know what’s going to happen. I can’t do anything about this.’
There was an awkward moment, about 15 minutes into a press conference where she answered lots of questions articulately, when she was asked if she condemned Putin’s war in Ukraine.
There was no easy answer — this was a hospital pass inquiry. Was she supposed to say she condemned it, and Putin, absolutely? Instead she said her English was not great, she had not understood the question, and moved on.
Jabeur blew Rybakina away with breaks in the third and ninth games of the opening set
Within minutes of the world No23 wrapping up the title, Russian news sites were reporting on the irony of her success here and publishing photos of her receiving the Venus Rosewater Dish from the Duchess of Cambridge.
Rybakina became a Kazakhstani in 2018 after being offered lucrative assistance to do so by a Kazakh tennis federation desperate for role models and champions.
‘I was super nervous before the match, during the match and I’m happy it’s finished to be honest,’ laughed Rybakina, who then acknowledged there had been zero ill-will towards her.
‘I want to thank the crowd for the support, it was unbelievable these two weeks,’ she said. ‘For sure it’s a fairytale. I’m going to remember today forever.’
But after being broken in the first game of the second set, it was her game that fell apart
Not one for exuberant celebrations, ever, she said it is just not her style to show emotion. Asked what her parents would think of her — they are still in Russia — she broke down in tears and said: ‘Probably they’re going to be super proud.’ Then, after wiping her eyes, she smiled and deadpanned: ‘You wanted to see emotion.’
Part of the All England Club’s rationale for the ban was that a Russian winner might be exploited by Putin.
One pre-match headline on the pro-Putin Russia Today website said: ‘Elena Rybakina: Meet the Russian star targeting Wimbledon glory.’
The RT article said a Rybakina win ‘could herald a somewhat awkward moment for Wimbledon and the British Royal Family.’
The player herself had made it clear she was here to represent Kazakhstan and not Russia
This is not the outcome the All England Club would have wanted or realistically could have expected. And at the end of a first set where Rybakina was as composed as a giraffe on a skating pond, it did not look likely.
Jabeur, with power and some audacious shot-making, blew her away with breaks in the third and ninth games of the opener. Rybakina could not land any of her trademark aces and made unforced errors galore.
Jabeur was hoping to make history herself as the first woman from the continent of Africa, as well as the first Arab woman, to win a Grand Slam singles title.
But after being broken in the first game of the second set, it was her game that fell apart. When broken again in the first game of the third, she looked broken.
She was much more accurate with her forehand and backhands in the second set
Jabeur was typically gracious in defeat. ‘I want to congratulate Elena and her team — great job and she deserved this. Hopefully next time it will be mine,’ she said.
Pre-match the president of the Russian Tennis Federation, Shamil Tarpischev, said: ‘It’s nice that Elena will play in the Wimbledon final, she is our product. Of course we will cheer for her.’
Some elements of the Russian media have been describing Rybakina as Russian, not even mentioning that she now represents Kazakhstan.
She also began to read Jabeur’s drop shots and was able to send over some delightful winners
The heat her win will now attract, through no fault of her own, is likely to be intense
One RT article had said: ‘A Moscow-born tennis star stands on the verge of an historic achievement on the pristine grass that the All England Club had hoped would be free from Russian influence, even if such propaganda was largely generated, and even amplified, by their own deeds.
‘The cherry on top of the saga? The Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, is set to be tasked with handing over the trophy to the winner in a moment which Buckingham Palace’s press agents will watch nervously through their fingers.’
The Duchess duly did so, which will no doubt be seized upon by the Kremlin, a real shame for all those involved.
Relive Sportsmail’s live blog for the 2022 women’s Wimbledon final between Elena Rybakina and Ons Jabeur from KISHAN VAGHELA.