Elena Rybakina will play her first-ever grand slam final when she takes on Ons Jabeur at the final of Wimbledon. She is currently ranked 23rd in the world even though her career-best ranking is 12. Her entry into the world of tennis and the hurdles she crossed to reach where she is now, is a fascinating story.
How did Elena Rybakina get into tennis?
From a very young age, Rybakina has shown signs of a sports prodigy. She wanted to pursue a career in either gymnastics or ice skating. Both the sports were quite similar when it came to flexibility. However, her tall stature forced her to put an end to that dream.
Seeing her athleticism, her father nudged her in the direction of tennis. He specifically chose tennis because of his personal interest in the sport. Rybakina started playing tennis at the young age of six. With time, she improved a lot and made her way up in the WTA rankings.
How is Elena Rybakina able to play in Wimbledon despite being born in Russia?
Rybakina was born in Moscow in 1999. It is impressive to note that she reached the Wimbledon final at a very young age of 23. However, Wimbledon has banned Russian and Belarusian players from participating in the tournament this year due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. Then how is Rybakina able to participate in Wimbledon.
