Elena Rybakina’s coronation moment was again haunted by questions about her Russian roots, prompting the newly crowned Wimbledon champion to burst into tears moments after making history as the first Grand Slam winner. of Kazakhstan.
Moscow-born Rybakina, whose parents still live in her native Russia, came out of a set to defeat Ons Jabeur in the women’s final 3-6, 6-2, 6-2.
But then Rybakina, who swore allegiance to Kazakhstan in 2018 in terms of funding and development, was drowned out by questions about links to her birthplace, following the most important moment in the young woman’s career. 23 years.
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After celebrating the historic victory with a routine handshake on the net, which made Jabeur joke that he should teach the new champion how to celebrate such a momentous occasion, Rybakina could no longer stand his emotions. during his post-party press conference.
Elena Rybakina crying during her press conference. (Getty)
The star had been investigated about his nationality in all available media throughout his career, dodging questions about how much time he spends in the country, this time being asked to condemn Russian President Vladimir Putin and the invasion.
“I didn’t choose where I was born. People believed in me. Kazakhstan supported me a lot,” he said.
“I still feel so much support today. I’ve seen the flags. So I don’t know how to answer those questions.”
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Then, he got excited and cried uncontrollably when asked to describe his parents ’reaction to his Grand Slam victory.
“They’ll probably be very proud,” he said as he cried.
“You wanted to see the emotion … it kept her going for too long.”
During the meeting with the media, the Wimbledon winner was asked if the Russian government would try to gain political mileage at home with its victory, to which she replied:
“I don’t know what will happen. It’s always news, but I can’t do anything about it.
“I have been playing in Kazakhstan for a long time. I represent them in the most important tournaments, the Olympic Games, which was a dream come true.”
Complicating matters for Rybakina is how Russia wasted no time in claiming the winner, with the country’s tennis head, Shamil Tarpischev, praising her victory as a triumph for Russia, describing the player as “our product” .
Rybakina of Kazakhstan receives the Duchess of Cambridge Trophy. (Getty)
“It’s very beautiful! Very good Rybakina! We won the Wimbledon tournament,” Tarpischev was quoted as saying by Russian news agency Ria Novosti.
Rybakina chose not to discuss how much time he spends in Moscow, saying he trains in Slovakia and Dubai when he is not on tour.
“So I don’t live anywhere, to be honest,” he added.
The only crime Rybakina committed was that his victory came in a tournament where his Russian compatriots were banned after the invasion of Ukraine. The UK government did its best to ban Russian and Belarusian players to prevent a member of the royal family from handing over the trophy to a Russian winner.
However, at the end of the tournament, officials could not prevent the Duchess of Cambridge from smoothing the Venus Rosewater Dish to a player who was born in Russia and lived there most of her life, although she officially plays to Kazakhstan.
Rybakina said he did not remember what was said during the presentation. (Getty)
The moment sparked a lot of online speeches with tennis experts who highlighted the awkward situation facing the All England Club and the UK government in a broader sense.
“No one behind this decision (to ban Russian players) wanted to glorify or see the sight of a Russian player raising the trophy so that it could be used as propaganda by Vladimir Putin. It would have been too bearable,” wrote Jon Wertheim . for Sports Illustrated.
“But in Rybakina, you have a player who was born and raised in Moscow. Her family still lives there. But she was able to play because she received funding from the Kazakhstan federation and changed her nationality.
“As we said before, we didn’t cheer on Rybakina for her decision and the ban wasn’t hers, but there was something a little awkward about a player who is Russian in every way, except for her passport which she won. Wimbledon.That’s not Rybakina’s fault, it’s the overall decision.
“Throughout the tournament, she has been measured and diplomatic when asked about the situation, probably aware of the political burden that was all over. We can’t help but feel for her, as the flaws in the ban really went away. produce Saturday “.
Tennis journalist Ben Rothenberg agreed: “Obviously, very uncomfortable after banning the Russians from going Muscovite with the #Wimbledon title, but in my opinion, that proves a big Russian failure,” he tweeted.
“Elena Rybakina left Russian tennis because they did not support or recognize her talent.
“Russia has lost today. Kazakhstan has won.”
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Since the WTA computer ranking began in 1975, only one woman with a lower ranking than Rybakina has won Wimbledon: Venus Williams in 2007 at number 31, even though she had been number 1 and already won three of the his five Wimbledon trophies of his career.
This year’s final was the first Wimbledon women’s final since 1962 between a pair of players who both debuted in a Grand Slam title match, and Rybakina acknowledged being nervous at the start.
When he entered the sunlight filling the 100-year-old stadium, he did not greet the spectators, as Jabeur did. Instead, Rybakina held a firm double grip on the black and red straps of the racket bag that hung over her shoulders.
And it was Jabeur who played best in the beginning, handling Rybakina’s strong serve and background shots to break for a 2-1 lead.
Rybakina’s mistakes increased. A volley on the net tape with the whole track wide open. A clean right hand after Jabeur barely got a short return. When another right of Rybakina’s red racket went wrong, Jabeur fell in love to take the first set, shouting “Yalla!” – Arabic for “Let’s go!” – and threw an uppercut as he walked toward the sideline.
Jabeur, a 27-year-old Tunisian girl, entered a streak of 12 consecutive victories, all on grass courts, and was trying to become the first Arab or African woman to win an individual Slam title in the professional era. , dating from 1968.
“I’m just trying to inspire as many generations as I can,” said Jabeur, who had stored a photo of the Wimbledon women’s individual trophy on his phone for inspiration. “I hope they’re not really disappointed, but next time I’ll do my best.”
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In the second set, Rybakina, who beat Serena Williams at last year’s French Open, began to show why she leads the ace tour in 2022, why, she said, “It’s effortless , the power I have “.
Her first chance to rest finally came more than an hour later, and Rybakina converted it to go 1-0 up when Jabeur missed a right-footed shot. After saving four break points in his next two service games, Rybakina broke again and soon led 5-1.
“I didn’t play my best tennis, let’s say, second and third set,” said Jabeur, who leads the women’s tour with 13 wins in three sets this year. “She started to be more aggressive. I think she got a lot more into the track and put a lot of pressure on me.”
Hitting his plans right on the court, never letting Jabeur regain his pace, Rybakina broke to start the third. There was one last crucial moment: Jabeur, who uses as many twists and turns and variety as anyone else in the game, took advantage of a drop shot and a lob in love-40 in Rybakina’s service.
But Rybakina grabbed the next five points, aided by a pair of 119 mph serves, to go up 4-2, and quickly broke down again.
“Frustrating,” Jabeur said.
Soon after, it was over.
“I did not know what to do. It was shocking, ”Rybakina said, explaining that she did not listen to half of what the Duchess of Cambridge told her during the trophy ceremony.
“Maybe one day you’ll see a big reaction from me,” she said with a smile, but unfortunately not today. “
Rybakina later admitted that he did not expect to arrive in the second week of the fortnight, let alone the last weekend.
She is now, and will forever be, a Grand Slam champion.
“It’s hard to describe now how I feel. But I’m sure I’ll remember those two weeks, especially today, forever,” Rybakina said. “I mean, it’s something I’ll never forget.”
– with AP
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