Russian-born Yelena Rybakina has stressed her ties to Kazakhstan in response to a question about Russia after her Wimbledon triumph.
“From my side, I can only say that I represent Kazakhstan. I didn’t choose where I was born,” said the 23-year-old, who has played for Kazakhstan since 2018.
Rybakina had been asked after her three-set win in the final against Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur whether she condemned Russia’s war of aggression and Vladimir Putin’s actions. “People believed in me. Kazakhstan has supported me so much. Today too there was so much support, I saw the flags. I don’t know how to answer these questions,” she said.
Addressing the war, she had earlier said in the tournament that she wanted it to “end as soon as possible”. Professionals from Russia and Belarus had been excluded from Wimbledon because of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine.
“I play for Kazakhstan for a very, very long time. I represent it in big tournaments, at the Olympics, when a dream came true,” Rybakina said. Asked if she feared that her victory in Russia could be used politically, she replied, “I don’t know what will happen. There will always be some news, but I can’t do anything about it.”
Rybakina also received congratulations from Russia for her victory. “We contributed a lot to her development,” Shamil Tarpishchev, head of the Russian Tennis Federation, told the Russian newspaper Sport-Express. “Is there any resentment against her? No. This is sport. Everyone chooses their own way. That is their right. “
