Wimbledon News: Elena Rybakina beats Ons Jabeur in women's singles final

The 23-year-old recovered from a set down and then scripted history as the youngest Wimbledon singles champion since 2011. After a shaky first set, she coaxed her opponent into making errors and finally won the match 3-6 6-2 6-2. Moscow-born Rybakina changed her nationality to Kazakh in 2018, which ultimately worked in her favour because Wimbledon imposed a ban on Russians this year. She received financial support from Kazakhstan and became a recipient of the Venus Rosewater Dish presented by the Duchess of Cambridge. She converted her first match point when Jabeur threw a backhand wide.

Rybakina pulled an unexpected stint

World number 23 Rybakina has previously won two WTA titles and been ranked 12th in January 2022. At her second main-draw appearance at Wimbledon, Rybakina made optimal use of her height and power to sack the title. She faced an opponent with contrasting styles in the final match. On her road to the summit clash, Rybakina had dropped only one set when she resurfaced to outclass Australia's Ajla Tomljanovic in the quarter-finals. However, Ons Jabeur was skilled enough to break Rybakina's serve twice and win the opening set. Rybakina wasn't affected during her powerful semi-final display against 2019 champion Simona Halep, but competing against top players and winning her first Grand Slam final is no easy feat. Rybakina took time to adjust to the match and then took control of the second set right from the beginning. 

Did errors made by Jabeur cost her the championship?

Ons Jabeur couldn't maintain a strong serve which was profitable for Rybakina. She won the game after her break to set up a 2-0 lead and moved a double break ahead at 4-1 as the errors filed into Jabeur's shots. After grabbing the second set, Rybakina broke again just as the decider started, and Jabeur's spirits sunk. However, the momentum was restored in the sixth game as the world number two seemed to compete. After a 0-40 lead, Jabeur assumed she landed the second of three break points with a clipped forehand, but the line-calling technology ruled it out. Rybakina held on and broke in the seventh game, which allowed her to serve for the championship.

Jabeur led 15-30 but delivered a wide forehand that initiated the first championship point. Rybakina was then the youngest champion since Petra Kvitova in 2011 and the first woman since Amelie Mauresmo in 2006 to emerge from a set down to win the title.