Wimbledon 2022: Elena Rybakina does the unthinkable!

Newly crowned Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina said she feared she would not make the second week at the All England Club after beating Ons Jabeur in Saturdayrsquos finalMoscowborn Rybakina who has represented Kazakhstan for the past four years fought back to defeat the Tunisian 36 62 62ldquoI did not expect to be in the second week of a Grand Slam at Wimbledon To be a winner is just amazing I donrsquot have words to say how happy I amrdquo said the 23yearoldHollywood star Tom Cruise in the Royal Box at the Wimbledon final on Saturday PicGetty ImagesldquoI was super nervous before the match during the match and Irsquom happy itrsquos finished to be honestrdquoThe bighitting Rybakina ranked a modest 23 in the world had never previously got beyond the Last 8 at a Slam before this WimbledonldquoI want to congratulate Ons for a great match and everything you have achieved I think you are an inspiration for everybody I ran so much I donrsquot think I need to do fitness anymorerdquoShift in momentumJabeur was bidding to make history as the first African woman to win a Grand Slam singles title But after dominating the first set against a nervous Rybakina her game fell apart winning just four of the next 16 gamesldquoFirst of all I want to congratulate Elena and her teammdashgreat job and she deserved this and hopefully next time it will be minerdquo said the World No2 She then joked ldquoElena stole my title but itrsquos OK ldquoI love this tournament so much and I feel really sad but Irsquom trying to inspire many generations from my country I hope they are listeningrdquoJabeur 27 started in style breaking Rybakina in the third game of the match when the Kazakh went long with a backhand She followed that with a hold to love that included a delicious backhand pass angled past her opponent at the netRybakina was under intense pressure on her own serve again as the set threatened to run away from her but she dug deep to hold for 32 But she failed to force a single break point on the sunbaked Centre Court in the first set and an errorstrewn service game gifted the set to JabeurAs Jabeur celebrated with a fistpump Rybakina returned to her chair contemplating a costly 17 unforced errors But momentum shifted immediately at the start of the second set as Rybakina broke Jabeur before holding for a 20 leadFinding her rhythmRybakina had now found her rhythm and Jabeur had to battle hard to hold to stay in touch The 23yearold Kazakh who stands six feet tall then fended off three break points before breaking again to take a 41 lead when Jabeur went long with a forehand Rybakina levelled the match with an ace as Jabeur reflected on four missed breakpoint opportunities in the setThe 17th seed was first to strike in the decider breaking straight away to heap the pressure on Jabeur The Tunisian squandered three break points in the sixth game as her frustration mounted and that proved to be her last chanceRybakina showed a few nerves in serving out for the set but won with her first championship point when Jabeur went long with a backhandThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever