When the All England Club decided to ban Russian and Belarusian players in April, part of its thinking was to avoid the embarrassment of the Duchess of Cambridge handing a trophy to a Russian-born player while the war in Ukraine raged. But on Saturday Rybakina, who was born in Russia and still lives in Moscow, although she switched to play for Kazakhstan four years ago, will have every chance to lift the famous Venus Rosewater Dish. Especially if her game remains as devastating as it was against Halep. After Rybakina had blown her opponent off the court with her excellent serve – which touched 120mph – and her venomous groundstrokes, she also showed some fine movement when asked afterwards if she felt Russian at heart. “What does feeling mean to you?” she answered. “I mean, I play tennis, so for me, I’m enjoying my time here. I feel for the players who couldn’t come here, but I’m just enjoying playing here on the biggest stage, enjoying my time and trying to do my best,” he added. Rybakina insisted she was happy to represent Kazakhstan, but was again evasive when asked if she still lived in Moscow. “I think I rely on the tour because I travel every week. I train in Slovakia between tournaments. I had camps in Dubai. So I don’t live anywhere, to be honest.” These were tough questions for the likable Rybakina to answer, and there was plenty of sympathy for her facing them after the biggest win of her career. But the head of the Russian Tennis Federation, Shamil Tarpichev, was quick to acknowledge the victory of Rybakina’s deep drive as he promised his country would cheer her on. “The grass is perfect for Rybakina,” he said. “She serves cool, plays straight, clean shots. Lena can win Wimbledon. Everything is worth it. It’s great that everything turned out like this, we will support her,” he told a Russian website. What made Rybakina’s victory so impressive was that Halep was in by far her best form of the tournament, conceding a total of just 28 games in her five matches, the fewest she has dropped en route to a Wimbledon semi-final in a decade. The Romanian had also won 12 straight matches at Wimbledon, including the 2019 title against Serena Williams. However, she had no answers for Rybakina’s strength or balance. Afterwards, Rybakina insisted she was nervous. But if he was, he hid it with a mysterious guile. She won the opening game to love, smashing three huge serves along with a stylish drop shot, then broke Halep to take a 2-0 lead. Another easy hold followed, and the Kazakh went 3-0 up in just eight minutes. The pattern was set. Soon she was set to 37 minutes and racing towards victory. If Rybakina’s power wasn’t worrying enough for Halep, she found her own game starting to crack as well. Three double faults at the start of the second set immediately put her on the back foot as she was immediately broken and then trailed 2-0. Simona Halep (left) and Elena Rybakina shake hands at the net after their Wimbledon semi-final match. Photo: Robert Prange/Getty Images The crowd felt that Halep might be going down gently. But without warning, Rybakina suddenly threw a horror show of a service game, repeatedly dodging the ball out of court as she loved it as the score fell to 2-2. But it was only a hit. Halep broke again after two more double faults to cut it to 4-2. Shortly after, another double fault and a backhand error allowed Rybakina to win the match – and become the youngest Wimbledon finalist since Garbiñe Muguruza in 2015. She is slowly letting herself dream of a Wimbledon final against Ons Jabeur, who will be the first African to play in a grand slam final. “I remember meeting Ons for the first time when we were playing a WTA 125K,” he recalls. “She was very nice to help me find the club because she had a car. I think it’s amazing to think we’re making history.” She is also enticed by the prospect of taking the trophy from Kate Middleton. “It’s definitely an honor and I’m going to be very excited right now, whether I win or lose,” she said. Quick guide
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Thanks for your response. “I think it’s something to remember and it’s going to be amazing. Ons is a very good, tough player and I think it will be a great match.” It was impossible not to be mesmerized by Rybakina’s happiness and joy – as well as the quality of her tennis. Behind the scenes, though, and their pristine smiles, the Wimbledon suits are no doubt shuffling uneasily.
