Elena Rybakina hits back at Russian Tennis chief after he took credit for her Wimbledon win calling her a ‘Russian Product’
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Elena Rybakina and Shamil Tarpischev, Chief of the Russian Tennis Federation
Elena Rybakina is a Russian-born Kazakhstan professional tennis player and the reigning champion of Wimbledon. Elena won the recently concluded 2022 Wimbledon Championships and is the first Kazakh player to win a major title and is ranked in the top 15. She formerly represented her country of birth, Russia, but has represented Kazakhstan since 2018.
Rybakina triumphed over the in-form Tunisian, Ons Jabeur by 3-6, 6-2, 6-2. The Tunisian didn’t expect the continuous attacks from the Russian-born Kazakh who hammered her with strong serves and forehands to become the youngest Wimbledon champion since 2011 at the age of 23 years.
Elena Rybakina’s response to the Chief of Russian Federation for his derogatory remarks
The 23-year-old Rybakina was born in Moscow and played in Russia until 2018 when financial issues led to her nationality switch. The oil and gas-rich Central Asian nation has a long tradition of homegrown success in sports like boxing and cycling but has often relied on recruiting talented tennis players from Russia. The star had been probed about her nationality in every single media availability throughout her run, dodging questions about how much time she spent in the country.
Elena’s victory in Wimbledon triggered many Russians including their Tennis Federation chief to claim Elena as their homegrown product. Yevgeny Kafelnikov, a retired Russian tennis player also blamed Kazakhstan buys ready-to-use products (players) from the manufacturer (Russia). Shamil Tarpischev, the President of the currently suspended Russian Tennis Federation had said, “It’s very nice. Well done Rybakina. We have won the Wimbledon tournament,”.
Yevgeny tweeted, “Ready-to-use product to buy from the manufacturer – you don’t need a lot of mind, especially if there is money “like a mosquito fool”! I can recommend to Kazakhstan a dozen talents from 10 to 12 years old who do not have funds for development. Everything will fall into place.”
Responding to all these claims, the 23-year-old gave a stern reply saying, “The transition from a junior to a professional career is very difficult. A good team is needed. Not everyone is able to continue at the professional level and achieve some success. Only a small number (can) and in this way, I am very lucky. So I am of course not really in agreement with that phrasing.”
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