Tennis player Elena Rybakina claims Wimbledon title, breaking precedents.
Unleashing the Unprecedented:
On the lush, historic grounds of the All England Lawn Tennis Club, the women's singles title in the Wimbledon tournament of 2022 will be contested between an unseeded sensation, Jabeur from Tunisia, and our very own Elena Rybakina. Is this match-up unexpected? Absolutely. But, as the excitement accelerates, so does our pride!
Daring Beginnings
Delving into Kazakh tennis history, Yaroslava Shvedova, our current women's team captain, made her mark by becoming the first Kazakh player to win a "Grand Slam" tournament in 2010. Her victory took place at Wimbledon as she triumphed in doubles with American Vania King and went on to win the US Open just two months later.
Alexander Bublik and Andrey Golubev came close to achieving glory at the "Roland Garros-2021" as they played in the final. Despite losing to the tournament hosts, their perseverance is an inspiring testament to Kazakh tennis resilience.
Similarly, Anna Danilina along with Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia played in the final of the Australian Open-2022. However, in singles, our players' best 'major' achievement remains reaching the quarterfinals.
But this year at Wimbledon, Elena Rybakina, our 23-year-old prodigy, has shattered this record, making it all the sweeter by reaching both the semifinals and the final.
Slaying the Giants
Against the 29-year-old Ajla Tomljanovic (No.44), ranked below Rybakina (No.23), on the hallowed Wimbledon grass, Elena started off strong with four consecutive two-set victories. However, during warm-ups, Ajla fought back, winning the first set – 6:4. Ajla's tenacious defense and Lena's moments of complacency kept the contest tense.
Determined to raise her game, Elena stepped up her serving Aces averaging over 200 km/h, crafting powerful shots, and mastering her short game. Lena overcame her early setback, winning nine out of the next ten games! The final, resounding game – 6-0 – was won with two aces, completely turning the tide – 4:6, 6:2, 6:3.
The stage was set for a different opponent – Simona Halep, a former world number one and the 18th-ranked player of the tournament, who had reached the finals of the 'Big Four' tournaments five times between 2014 and 2019, winning two (French Open 2018 and Wimbledon 2019).
Despite fewer aces and double faults, Elena showcased an impressive performance, winning 22 points from active play while minimizing unforced errors. In comparison, Halep struggled, making uncharacteristic mistakes – 0-9, 52%, 16-15. The outcome was a decisive victory – 6:3, 6:3 in 1 hour 16 minutes.
In the first set, none of Elena's serves went without break points. Although she converted only one, it was enough to establish a 2:0 lead and secure the set. The second set started with a break by Lena and a score of 2:0. However, she then faltered, allowing her opponent to level the score. Fortunately, Rybakina quickly regained her momentum, winning another game on her opponent's serve and adding one on her own – 4:2. At 3:5 and 40:40, Halep made a double fault, and on match point, Lena played a stunning backhand return, sending the ball through the corridor and winning the set – 6-3, 6:3.
The final step – it's the hardest one...
...where she will face the second-ranked 27-year-old Ons Jabeur from Tunisia. Known for her creative, unusual playstyle, Jabeur broke into the top 10 world rankings on October 18, 2021, and has remained there since. In the 2022 Wimbledon women's singles final, Jabeur will compete against Elena Rybakina, an exciting match-up that will make history.
Born to Break Barriers
Hailing from Ksar Hellal, Ons Jabeur, on August 28, 1994, rose to prominence as the first Arab and African woman to reach a major singles final at Wimbledon in 2022. To train when resources were scarce in Tunisia, she began playing tennis at the tender age of 5, waking up at 5 am and traveling to a neighboring city for training. Her dedication and persistence paid off when she won the prestigious junior "Roland Garros" at 16 years old.
However, her journey was far from straightforward as she often felt overshadowed among her peers and struggled with financial constraints. A turning point came when she met Tunisian fencer Karim Kamoun in 2013, who later joined her team as a coach for general and specific physical preparation. Married since 2017, the couple continues to support each other, with Karim leveraging his master's degree in sports science to help his wife excel on the court.
Although Jabeur faced adversity, she persevered and overcame these obstacles. Her win at Wimbledon marked a major breakthrough and solidified her position as a trailblazer for Arab and African athletes in tennis. This eagerly anticipated encounter between Jaber and Rybakina is set to unfold later today.
Congratulations to Elena Rybakina for shattering the record and reaching the semifinals and final at Wimbledon, marking a significant milestone for Kazakh tennis. Her victory over Simona Halep showcased impressive tennis, with a decisive 6-3, 6-3 win in just 1 hour 16 minutes.
Alexander Bublik and Andrey Golubev also brought honor to Kazakhstan, as they reached the final of Roland Garros-2021, demonstrating resilience and determination. Yaroslava Shvedova, our women's team captain, made history by becoming the first Kazakh player to win a Grand Slam tournament in 2010, winning both Wimbledon doubles and the US Open.
Now, Elena Rybakina will face another challenge as she competes against Ons Jabeur in the Wimbledon women's singles final. Jabeur, known for her creative playstyle, made history by becoming the first Arab and African woman to reach a major singles final at Wimbledon in 2022. We eagerly await the outcome of this exciting match-up between Rybakina and Jabeur, which promises to make history.
