It’s a victory for the history books!
Elena Rybakina (23) was the first Kazakh woman to win the Wimbledon Grand Slam tournament. The number 23 in the world defeated the favorite and second in the world rankings, Ons Jabeur (27/Tunisia), 3: 6, 6: 2, 6: 2.
Prince William’s wife Kate (40), the Duchess of Cambridge, presented her with the trophy. Kate was the most conspicuous person on Center Court in her bright yellow dress.
“I was nervous before the game, during the game. I’ve never felt anything like today. I’m actually speechless. It was such an incredible atmosphere,” Rybakina said.
She hadn’t even cheered properly. Briefly, the Becker fist, barely visible, that’s it. Like she just moved into the 2nd round of a challenger. Rybakina: “I have no idea what was wrong with me. But I’m always so calm.”
Her only explanation: “I’ve worked so hard to get to where I am now. What happened in these two weeks is so unexpected. It was a tough match, mentally and physically. I was super happy when it was over. I couldn’t believe I made it.”
Foto: Zac Goodwin/AP
” data-zoom-src=”https://bilder.bild.de/fotos/obligatorisch-der-kuss-fuer-die-shell-diesmal-von-elena-rybakina-f31e679ff4834c63b3523e9cafeb86b3-80653866/Bild/1.bild. jpeg”/> Obligatory: the kiss for the bowl, this time from Elena RybakinaFoto: Zac Goodwin/AP
Jabeur quickly regained her sense of humor: “I’ll teach her how to party properly.” But Rybakina’s emotions still came when she was asked at the press conference what her parents would say if they did soon sees.
All her dams broke and tears streamed down her face. “You wanted to see emotions. It just took a little longer,” she quickly laughed again. “You will be super proud.
Foto: TOBY MELVILLE/REUTERS
” data-zoom-src=”https://bilder.bild.de/fotos/prinzessin-kate-ueberseits-elena-rybakina-die-siegerkapelle-f08df86d5ae1460888516fa5cfd726d0-80653944/Bild/1.bild.jpg”/> Princess Kate presents Elena Rybakina with the winner’s trophyFoto: TOBY MELVILLE/REUTERS
Rybakina is probably the most controversial winner in recent years, because she was born in Russia and still lives in Moscow. However, Russians and Belarusians are excluded from Wimbledon this year because of the war in Ukraine.
But Rybakina had already changed associations in 2018, “because Kazakhstan was looking for players and I needed help. The Kazakhs believed in me, that’s how we found each other,” she said.
But whether she felt more like a Russian or a Kazakh, she evaded that answer. “A difficult question. I represent Kazakhstan, that makes me happy. And my home is the tour. I train in Slovakia, I’m rarely in Moscow,” Rybakina said. When asked if she would condemn the war, she didn’t want to understand. “My English isn’t the best,” she said. Oddly enough, she understood the rest without any problems.
The course in the first set was set early. Jabeur broke Rybakina to make it 2:1, then served through safely until she took the serve from her opponent a second time to make it 6:3. Rybakina never reached the level of the last encounters, missed a lot of easy balls.
Foto: TOBY MELVILLE/REUTERS
” data-zoom-src=”https://bilder.bild.de/fotos/ons-jabeur-lieferte-elena-rybakina-einen-harten-kampf-3be530dd983648a1b998e93511f07b17-80652080/Bild/7.bild.jpg”/> Ons Jabeur delivered a tough fight to Elena RybakinaFoto: TOBY MELVILLE/REUTERS
Foto: TOBY MELVILLE/REUTERS
