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.
“I was born in Russia, but of course I am representing Kazakhstan. It’s already a long journey for me. I was playing Olympics, Fed Cup before. I got so much help and support. I’m feeling just the support of the people and very happy to represent Kazakhstan because I think I’m also bringing some results, which are very good for the sport in Kazakhstan.”
On Wimbledon’s decision to ban Russian and Belarusian athletes, she added: “I mean, when I heard this, this is not something you want to hear because we are playing sport. Everybody wants to compete. They were not choosing where they born. Of course, I feel it for them because everybody wants to compete at the biggest tournament, at Wimbledon. Yeah, I just hope that next year is going to be back to normal.
“I’m really happy that I’m representing Kazakhstan already for a long time. They believed in me. They made everything possible for me to keep playing, keep improving. Of course, it helped a lot.” Rybakina now faces a titanic battle with a resurgent Simona Halep, who has yet to drop a set at The Championships so far this year.
Her 2021 was dogged by injury which forced her to miss Wimbledon last year due to injury and the Romanian, who has spent just five hours and 38 minutes this fortnight due to injury, is fresh and determined to triumph at the All-England Club once again.
“I feel ready to go. I feel good physically, mentally as well,” she said. "Yeah, I feel ready for tomorrow. It is the same thing for her, she played today also. So yeah I’m not thinking about these things. I’m just thinking that I have a very nice chance to play semis in Wimbledon.
“I feel super happy about it. I struggled a lot, as I said many times. Now being in the semis of a grand slam, it means a lot. I will take it. I will give myself the credit that I’ve been really good this period of two, three months. I work hard. It’s just a joy to be back in the semi-final of a grand slam.”
