Wimbledon, Rybakina and Russia: “I didn’t choose where to be born”

In the end she too admitted it, the Queen of Wimbledon: “Happy is over”. Elena Rybakina, the apparently cold Kazakh who celebrated the most important triumph of her life with a half smile and zero scenes of joy and jubilation, let herself go to the emotions: “It was the most difficult match of my life, I was really too tense “.

She, born in Moscow 23 years ago, has been a Kazakh for only 4 years and it is only because of her passport that she was able to participate and win at Wimbledon, on that stage denied this year to Russians and Belarusians due to the war in Ukraine.

dribbling

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For both weeks, Rybakina had dribbled the subject and repeated the same mantra over and over: “I’m Kazakh and proud of it”, which she also reiterated during the awards ceremony and at the press conference. But where she inevitably and directly came to the question of what she thought of the actions of Vladimir Putin and of his country of origin. A little stiff, she first replied that she did not understand the question well and then justified herself not knowing how to speak English perfectly, and then clarifies: “I represent Kazakhstan, the nation that has trusted me and has made all their support felt during these days. I heard the fans, I saw the flags. I didn’t choose where to be born, but all the people of Kazakhstan have supported me so much these days, and I am grateful to them. ”

A clean answer without going beyond the lines, those same lines that in these two weeks he has caressed with delicacy and power at the same time, inside and outside the most important playing field in the world. Rybakina then thanked her whole team (“Without them I would never be here”), with moved thoughts of her parents, who have done so much for her throughout her life.

the duchess

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Despite the probable embarrassment in rewarding a Muscovite right in the year of the war and after banning the participation of Russians and Belarusians, the protocol, in perfect British style, was respected without the slightest flaw. Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, godmother of the tournament, rewarded Rybakina with no signs of embarrassment. On the other hand, being the wife of the future king of England also includes this: not to show too many emotions in public in such a situation. Only note: her yellow dress. Like half of the Ukrainian flag. Wanted signal? This, at least, is not known.