Rybakina Becomes First Kazakh Player To Win Grand Slam Title With Wimbledon Victory

Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina poses with the trophy after winning the women's singles final against Tunisia's Ons Jabeur on July 9.

Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan has become the first player representing the Central Asian nation to win a Grand Slam tennis singles title, defeating Ons Jabeur in the Wimbledon finals.

The 23-year-old Rybakina beat Tunisia's Jabeur 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 on July 9 in the famed tournament outside of London.

The 27-year-old Jabeur made history herself, becoming the first Arab woman to reach the final of a Grand Slam tournament.

Rybakina, who was born in Moscow, would not have been allowed to play at this year's Wimbledon had she not switched allegiance from Russia to Kazakhstan four years ago.

Players from Russia and Belarus were banned from competing at the tournament this year because of the war in Ukraine.

Rybakina is the youngest woman to win the Wimbledon title since 21-year-old Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic in 2011.

Serbia's Novak Djokovic and will face Nick Kyrgios of Australia on July 10 in the men's final.

Based on reporting by Reuters, AP, and AFP