Tennis-Moscow-born Rybakina powers past Jabeur to Wimbledon title

Tennis - Wimbledon - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - July 9, 2022 Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina celebrates with the trophy after winning the women's singles final against Tunisia's Ons Jabeur REUTERS/Matthew Childs

LONDON (Reuters) -In a year when Russian players were banned from Wimbledon, Moscow-born Elena Rybakina rallied from a set down to defeat Tunisia's Ons Jabeur 3-6 6-2 6-2 on Saturday to become the first player from Kazakhstan to win a Grand Slam singles title.

With Russian and Belarussian players banned from the grasscourt major following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, Rybakina would have been excluded had she not switched allegiance from Russia in 2018 for better funding and support.