"I was super nervous before the match, during and I'm very happy that it's over. I've never felt anything like this," commented Rybakina without managing to expose his inner joy.

"To tell the truth, I didn't expect to reach the second week of a Grand Slam at Wimbledon. So winning the tournament is really incredible. I don't have the words to say how happy I am," she added.

Aged 23, she had never passed the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam tournament (Roland-Garros 2021).

Born in Moscow, she brings to Kazakhstan, whose nationality she took in 2018, her first major title, men and women alike.

The president of the Kazhak Federation was also in the stands and was the first to congratulate her when she climbed these stands to join her relatives, including her mother and sister.

"Elena stole my title, but it's ok!" For her part, tried to joke Jabeur who admitted to being "really sad", especially since she "tries to be a source of inspiration for generations in (his) country".

Jabeur, who was the first Arab player to reach the quarter-finals of a Major, in 2020 in Australia, is the first player from the African continent to have played in the final of a Grand Slam tournament in the professional era.

On the court on Saturday, Rybakina appeared in difficulty with her main weapon, the service (0 ace, 58% of first serves in the first set), and was dominated in the first set by also committing many unforced errors (17 for 7 winning moves).

She didn't get a single break point.

Fortunately for the Kazakh, the serve started in the second set.

She passed significantly more first serves (73%, 2 aces) and dominated this second round.

After having broken from the start, at 2-1 she saved 4 break points, won her face-off and succeeded, she, in stride, the double break to break away 5-1 and quietly equalize at one set everywhere.

Again, Rybakina immediately took Jabeur's serve in the third set.

At 3-2, she trailed 0/40 on her serve, but won the next five points to get a little closer to the Holy Grail.

Nervousness and distress then began to take shape clearly on Jabeur's face, while Rybakina's became more and more determined.

Decidedly on the initiative, the Kazakh scored the double break to lead 5-2 and serve for the match.

© 2022 AFP