Posted: 17:10, July 7, 2022 | Updated: 23:54, July 7, 2022
“Russian-born star storms Wimbledon final,” cheered the front page of the Russia Today website. This, one assumes, is the sort of thing the All England Club hoped to avoid when, in response to the invasion of Ukraine, they banned Russian and Belarusian players from competing in the Championships. But Elena Rybakina – born, raised and a resident of Moscow – switched citizenship to Kazakhstan four years ago in search of funding and so she arrived, destroying 2019 champion Simona Halep 6-3, 6-3 on her Center Court debut to make a t-shirt. final against Tunisian Ons Jabeur. Elena Rybakina (pictured) advances to Wimbledon final after defeating Simona Halep The 23-year-old reached a Grand Slam final for the first time after defeating the 2019 champion The world No.23 eased past Simona Halep (R) 6-3, 6-3 on her Center Court debut Listen closely after the No17 seed hit a backhand winner on match point and, amid the cheers of the Wimbledon crowd, one could almost hear the Kremlin’s propaganda machine revving into action. None of this is in Rybakina’s control, of course. all she can control is her tennis and she does it terribly well. Asked if she thought she would represent Russia on Saturday, Rybakina said: “I’m very happy to represent Kazakhstan. They believed in me. “I feel for the players who couldn’t come here, but I just enjoy playing here on the biggest stage.” Rybakina ended her opponent’s 20-match winning streak at Wimbledon on Thursday Romania’s Simona Halep (pictured) looks disappointed as members of the crowd watch The 23-year-old was a gymnast and figure skater as a child, but was told she was too tall to have a future in any sport. That brought her to tennis where her 6ft frame helped her hit 49 aces this fortnight, a tournament high. Her strokes are penetrating and she moves with a grace born of these childhood pursuits. Halep missed last year’s Championships due to injury and so, including her run to the 2019 title, came into this match having won 20 straight sets at Wimbledon. But the 30-year-old Romanian rattled the power of Rybakina, whose temperament belied their pedigree Grand Slam gap. She looks every inch a grand champion in waiting and would be the first Kazak winner of the Wimbledon title. Or, as Russia Today put it, the first Russian-born player to win since Maria Sharapova in 2004. Rybakina will face Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur (pictured) after beating Tatjana Maria in three sets
