Post by Admin on Jul 6, 2022 16:10:31 GMT
History Made as Elena Rybakina Reaches Semi-Final | Wimbledon 2022
5,633 views Jul 6, 2022 Elena Rybakina reaches her first Grand Slam semi-final after overcoming Ajla Tomljanovic at The Championship.
There may be no tennis players representing Russia allowed on the courts of the All England Club this year but that has not stopped the most promising Russia-born prospect of the new generation from flourishing on the grass and piecing together the best tournament of her young career.
Down a set and under pressure against an inspired opponent, Elena Rybakina shrugged off her early nerves and recovered to bulldoze her way into her first grand slam semi-final, defeating Alja Tomljanovic 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.
By breaking new ground at Wimbledon, Rybakina, the 17th seed, is the first Kazakh woman or man in history to reach a grand slam semi-final. As she took it all in, her victory was described multiple times by the on-court interviewer as “a huge day for you and country.” It is a little more complicated than that.
Rybakina was born in Russia and represented her home country throughout her childhood. But like many Russian players before her, despite reaching a junior career high of No 3 she did not receive help from the Russian Federation. As her family shouldered the significant costs of her career, they considered college and alternative paths.
That uncertainty was quashed after receiving an offer from Kazakhstan to represent the country in exchange for financial support and access to their growing training facilities. In 2018, aged 19, she made the change. “I think it was very good timing because they were looking for the player. I was looking for some help. They believed in me. So I think it was very good combination. We just find each other,” she said on Wednesday.