The Wimbledon 2022 women’s singles champion Elena Rybakina was delighted to win her first Grand Slam title.
Born and raised in Russia, Rybakina chose to play under the Kazakhstan flag in 2018, when she was number 175 in the world.
Four years later, she disputes Wimbledon in an edition in which Russian and Belarusian tennis players were excluded in reprisal for the invasion of Ukraine by Vladimir Putin’s troops.
“Well for now I can say that I’m not enjoying [the attention] that much. But maybe one day I’m going to be more relaxed because there is so much more attention now, but I just didn’t expect it.” Rybakina said.
“Everybody is trying to help me because it’s the first time and there is so much attention. It’s not easy for me, because I’m a calm person.” she added.
Kazakh tennis player on Saturday became Wimbledon champion by defeating Tunisian Ons Jabeur in the final.
Rybakina closed the game in 2 sets to 1, in a comeback, with partials of 3-6, 6-2 and 6-2, in an hours and 47 minutes of play.
“I was super nervur before and during the game. I didn’t expect to get to the second week of a Grand Slam at Wimbledon, and to be the winner is just incredibly,” Rybakina said.
“You have an amazing game, and I don’t think we have someone like this on tour. I ran today so much, so I don’t think I need to do fitness more, honestly.” Rybakina added.
Since Petra Kvitova won in 2011, Rybakina became the Wimbledon women’s champion at the event’s youngest age ever.
Following her fourth-round performance at Wimbledon the last year, Rybakina only made two matches at this year’s tournament.
The Wimbledon tournament will not earn points this season in both the women’s and men’s ranking, that’s why it decided to ban Russian and Belarusian athletes against the wise of the WTA and ATP, which took the decision in retaliation.
