Russian-born Jelena Rybakina won the first grand slam of her career at Wimbledon – Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur was disappointed

representing Kazakhstan Yelena Rybakina could read the Tunisian gimmick Ons Jabeurin scheming stoppage shots well enough and celebrates her and her country’s first women’s singles grand slam title.

Ranked 17th in the tournament, Rybakina won the championship set 2–1 (3–6, 6–2, 6–2).

In the final, two grand slam final debutants met for the first time.

Rybakina herself was surprised by her first grand slam title.

– I have never experienced anything like this. I want to say a big thank you to my supporters and the audience. Without my parents, I wouldn’t be here, Rybakina talked in the field interview.

Praise was also enough for the final opponent.

– Ons, you are a great player and a source of inspiration for countless girls.

Rybakina, 23, previously represented Russia at the junior level. However, he switched to the colors of Kazakhstan four years ago. Kazakhstan has recruited several top Russian players by offering them funding.

– I am happy to represent Kazakhstan. They believed in me. My journey as a Kazakh player is already long, Rybakina said during the Wimbledon tournament.

Jabeur from Tunisia became the first African woman to win the tennis grand slam tournament. The “Happiness Minister”, who strives to inspire players from outside the traditional tennis countries and enjoys the status of a national hero in his home country, was left licking his fingers because of Rybakina’s hard serves.

– I’m trying to inspire the future generations of my country, the role model of many Arab girls said and received applause from the audience.

Despite his loss, Jabeur made history. African women had not reached the singles finals in the Grand Slams during the open period of the tournaments, i.e. since 1968.

Before open time, South Africans Irene Peacock (French Open 1927), Renee Schuurman (Australian Open 1959) and Sandra Reynolds (Wimbledon 1960) had played in the women’s singles finals.

In men in the open era of South Africa Johan Kriek won the Australian Open in 1981 and 1982. The latter time, however, he represented the United States.

The match was a meeting between two different players. Jabeur knows how to change the tempo of the game and tries to surprise his opponents. Stop shots in particular are part of his gimmick selection. The skilled Tunisian gambler has often been compared to a tennis pro to Roger Federer.

The tall Rybakina, on the other hand, relies on hard punches and her reach.

At first it seemed that Jabeur would easily advance to the historic first grand slam victory by an African female player. Jabeur, seeded third, started strongly and broke his opponent’s pass twice in the first set. The Tunisian won the set quite easily 6–3.

However, the hard-hitting Rybakina got her game under control and won the next sets by clear numbers.

In the third set, the punching skill Jabeur started to get nervous and frustrated as the game progressed under Rybakina’s control. Jabeur won only two out of eleven break balls in the match.

In the men’s final, they will face Serbia on Sunday Novak Djokovic and Australia Nick Kyrgios.