Russian-born tennis star Elena Rybakina has pleaded for peace in Ukraine after she reached the semi-finals of Wimbledon. Both the 23-year-old and her opponent Ajla Tomljanović were aiming to reach the last four of the Grand Slam for the first time. After losing the first set 6-4, the powerful baseliner began to take control of the rallies and ultimately the match.
She eventually wore the Australian down and took the next two sets 6-2, 6-3 to leave her just one match away from the final. After being born in Moscow, Rybakina switched allegiances to Kazakhstan in 2018 and became the first person from the country to reach a major semi-final.
She’s free to compete at SW19 this summer while players from Russia and Belarus are banned due to the invasion of Ukraine, and the 17th seed called for an end to the conflict that has ravaged the Eastern European country. “I just want the war to end as soon as possible and peace,” the world number 23 said.
