Rybakina was not the underdog but far from the favourite when she took the court against Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur in the women’s singles final at Wimbledon 2022 on Saturday (July 09). Jabeur had been one of the best players throughout the tournament and was in rampaging form but Rybakina stood tall at the Centre Court with her maiden Wimbledon triumph.
Moscow-born Elena Rybakina overcame a set deficit to overcome Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur 3-6 6-2 6-2 on Saturday, becoming the first woman from Kazakhstan to win a Grand Slam singles title in a year when Russian players were barred from Wimbledon.
Rybakina would not have been allowed to compete in the grasscourt major since Russian and Belarussian athletes were barred when Moscow invaded Ukraine in 2018, had she not shifted her allegiance from Russia for greater sponsorship and support.
Although Rybakina’s mental state may have been impacted by the numerous inquiries about her connections to Russia during the past week, there was no obvious change in the 23-year-performance. old’s
The lanky Rybakina raised the Venus Rosewater Dish after another action-packed performance to become the sixth different women’s champion in as many years in a spectacle involving two first-time Grand Slam finals since 1962.
Rybakina, who became the first woman to win a Wimbledon final from a set down since Amelie Mauresmo in 2006, said, “It’s amazing because I was really worried before the match (and) during the match, and I’m honestly delighted that it is over.”
“I’ve never felt something like this.”
The cool-as-cucumber Rybakina celebrated the win with barely a fist pump and just a fleeting smile in her typical demeanour.
Rybakina and Jabeur had previously faced off three times, with each player winning a match, but the Kazakh withdrew due to sickness from their most recent meeting in Chicago a year ago.
Jabeur, the second-ranked player in the world, entered the match with an 11-match winning streak, all of which took place on grass.
Rybakina’s thunderous serve was anticipated to be a crucial element in the match on Saturday, but Jabeur struggled less to hold serve in the early going on a sun-drenched Centre Court.
Rybakina’s flow was visibly disrupted by Jabeur’s strategy to shake things up with hard slices and drop shots, as the Tunisian dealt the first blow with a break in the third game.
Jabeur made the most of her slices during the rallies to slow the pace by stepping inside the baseline to attack her opponent’s second serve.
When Rybakina was down 5-3, she appeared to lose her composure and made four unforced errors, including a double fault, which gave Jabeur a break and the first set in 32 minutes.
After receiving the golden dish from the Duchess of Cambridge, Rybakina complimented her opponent, saying, “You have a wonderful game and I don’t think that we have someone like you on Tour, you are a delight to play against.”
“I ran so far today, I don’t think I need to exercise anymore,” BURNING FIRE
Rybakina appeared to be an entirely different player throughout the remaining 80 minutes of the game, which was far from done.
She displayed the athleticism to block Jabeur’s drop strokes despite her lofty frame as her red-framed racket started spewing fire.
She gained an early break in the second set, shifting the momentum in her favour.
Rybakina’s power was something Jabeur attempted to equal, but her strategy backfired. Rybakina also reduced her unforced errors, which made the drop shots appear less challenging.
In a drawn-out fourth game, the Tunisian had three opportunities to tie the match, but Rybakina stood her ground and broke Jabeur the next game to take a 4-1 lead.
Three games later, the 17th seed blasted down an ace at 116 mph to force a third set.
By breaking Jabeur in the first game of the final set, Rybakina quickly took the lead.
Jabeur, who was once known as the “Minister of Happiness” back home, cut a distressed figure on the lush green grass as she screamed angrily at herself while enjoying the noisy support of the Centre Court crowd.
Jabeur put up three break point opportunities in the sixth game, which increased their excitement for a comeback, but Rybakina once again stopped her.
The Tunisian, who was seeking to become the first African woman and the first Arab to win a major, buried her face in her towel during the changeover as the Kazakh won five straight games to save the break points and then broke Jabeur once again.
While serving to win the match, Rybakina seemed a little frazzled, but she won the match and the Championship after Jabeur’s backhand went wide on the first championship point.
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