-Ikenna Okafor
Kazakh tennis star Elena Rybakina has decided to withdraw from Hamburg after winning Wimbledon.
On Saturday, Rybakina defeated Ons Jabeur in the Wimbledon final 3-6 6-2 6-2 to lift her maiden Grand Slam title.
After two very physically and mentally demanding weeks at Wimbledon, Rybakina has decided not to take more time to rest and won’t be returning to action next week. The Hamburg European Open kicks off on July 17 and is a clay event.
Rybakina, 23, was scheduled to make her debut on the clay courts of Hamburg this year. Unfortunately for the Hamburg organizers, they will have to wait for another opportunity to see Rybakina in action at the German clay event.
Rybakina was born in Moscow but has been representing Kazakhstan since 2018. At Wimbledon, Rybakina became the first-ever Kazakh player to reach a Grand Slam final. Not only that Rybakina became the first Kazakh to reach a Grand Slam final, she also became the first Kazakh Grand Slam winner.
After sealing the win over Jabeur, Rybakina didn’t show much emotion and didn’t lose herself like players usually do after winning their first Grand Slam title. After the match, Rybakina was asked about her very calm reaction to winning Wimbledon.
“I’m always very calm. I don’t know what should happen. When I was giving speech in the end I was thinking, ‘I’m going to cry right now,’ but somehow I hold it. Maybe later when I’m going to be alone in the room, I’m going to cry nonstop.
Rybakina withdraws from Hamburg Open