Elena Rybakina beat Ons Jabeur in the women’s singles final to win Wimbledon 2022. She is the first player from Kazakhstan to win a Grand Slam singles event. 

The Russian-born Kazakhstani star had an impressive road to the final, where she defeated Simona Halep in the semifinal. 

Also read: Elena Rybakina’s journey in Wimbledon 2022

However, while she has mesmerised many by her performance at Wimbledon 2022, fans throughout the world still have little clue about her. Let’s find out who is the Kazakhstani tennis star, who has managed to script two back-to-back David vs Goliath stories in the modern day game by defeating Simona Halep and Ons Jabeur respectively.

Also read: Nick Kyrgios’ road to the Wimbledon 2022 final

Born in June 17, 1999 in Moscow, Russia, Rybakina began her career on the ITF Junior Circuit at the age of 14. She rose to fame quickly, becoming the world no. 3 in junior ranking. 

In her final season in the junior circuit, Elena rose victorious in her first and only Grade-A title at the Trofeo Bonfiglio, where she managed to defeat Iga Swiatek.

The emerging tennis star turned professional in December 2014. Four years later, she broke into the top 200 of the WTA rankings in May 2018. In the subsequent month, Elena acquired citizenship to Kazakhstan, having turned 19 at that time. A few months later, she entered her first-ever Grand Slam qualifying draw at the US Open, however, failed to reach the main draw.

Elena Rybakina managed to reach the main draw of the French Open in 2019. She went on to win her maiden WTA Tour title at the Bucharest Open in July 2019. As a result, she broke into the top 100 of the WTA rankings, at no. 65. She finished the year at no. 37 in the rankings.

Also read: Wimbledon 2022: Djokovic expects ‘a lot of fireworks’ in final vs Kyrgios

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, she became the world no. 14 and became the highest ranked Kazakhstani player in the history of the sport in 2021. She also defeated Serena Williams at the French Open in straight sets and reached the quarterfinals.

In 2022, she reached her career-best rank of no.12 in January. Later, she reached her first major Grand Slam semi-final at Wimbledon, beating Ajla Tomljanovic in the quarters. She later advanced to the final after defeating Simona Halep in straight sets and became the youngest Wimbledon finalist since Garbine Muguruza in 2015.

Elena Rybakina went on to face Ons Jabeur in the final of the women’s singles on Saturday, defeating her by the score of 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 and clinched her maiden Grand Slam title.