When Elena Rybakina lifted the Wimbledon women's singles trophy last July, her two closest supporters were absent from the stands at the All England Club's famous Centre Court.
Rybakina's parents, Andrey and Ekaterina, were unable to travel to England from Moscow — where they reside — to watch their daughter's breakthrough major win.
In the media conference that followed her victory, Rybakina was overcome with emotion when asked how her parents would feel about what she had just achieved.
