(Tennis news) Elena Rybakina won her maiden Grand Slam title after beating world number 3 Ons Jabeur in the final of Wimbledon’s Women’s Singles. Rybakina came from a set down to beat Jabeur 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 and become the first player from Asia representing Kazakhstan to win a major title. After taking the first set comprehensively Jabeur lost her way in the match, which saw Rybakina take control of the final. Rybakina took the second set after breaking Jabeur’s serve twice, before doing the same in the deciding set to become Wimbledon champion.

Elena Rybakina was born in Moscow and has represented Kazakhstan since 2018, when they started to offer her funding to support her tennis career. The switch since has been a topic of controversy during Wimbledon, because it barred all players who represent Russia or Belarus from entering the tournament due to the situation in Ukraine. Since the WTA rankings began in 1975, only one woman ranked lower than the No. 23 Rybakina has won Wimbledon which subsequently the great Venus Williams in 2007 as she was ranked No. 31, although she had been No. 1 and already won three of her five career Wimbledon trophies previously.

Rybakina in the match used her big serve and powerful forehand to overpower the No. 3 ranked Jabeur's varied style, with a mix of spins and slices, to put a halt to the 27-year-old Tunisian's 12-match winning streak, which she achieved entirely on the grass courts. By the match's third game, Jabeur had figured out Rybakina's serves and created fewer inviting opportunities for baseline power, which eventually helped her win the first set quite comfortably. Jabeur was trying to become the first Arab or African woman to win a Slam singles title in the professional era, since 1968. Rybakina on the other hand, who beat Serena Williams at last year's French Open, finally earned her first chance to break serve as she began the second set 1-0 when Jabeur missed a forehand. After saving four break points over her next two service games, Rybakina broke again and soon led 5-1 as won the second set 6-3

Jabeur this season leads the women's tour with 13 victories in three-setters this season, but Rybakina came out the stronger women in the deciding set. She broke her serve once more to begin the third, and went up 3-1 quickly in the decider. Jabeur found a way to cut down on her mistakes and came close to changing the course of the set while being down 3-2 in the third set. But ultimately Rybakina erased that trio of break points and took the game, aided by a couple of massive 119 mph serves. She got to serve for the match as that game began with a 117 mph ace off Rybakina's red racket, soon she won that set 6-3 . She was over the moon when she won as she celebrated by stepping over the green wall beside front-row seats to go through the stands for hugs with her coach, her sister and others.

Even then, Rybakina's reaction was muted as can be, a little sigh, a hint of a smile."Happy that it finished, to be honest, because really, I never felt something like this. You have an amazing game, and I don't think we have someone like this on tour," Rybakina told Jabeur during the post-match trophy ceremony, then added this one-liner: "I ran today so much, so I don't think I need to do fitness more, honestly."

Jabeur also was participating in her first Grand Slam final."She deserved this. Hopefully next time will be mine," said Jabeur, whose exuberance on the court and personality off it have earned her the sobriquet "Minister of Happiness. Elena stole my title," Jabeur joked, "but it's OK."

"I love this tournament so much. I feel really sad. But it's tennis. There is only one winner," Jabeur added. "I'm really happy that I'm trying to inspire many generations from my country. I hope they're listening."

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