Elena holds court for win

RUSSIA-BORN Elena Rybakina became Kazakhstan's maiden grand slam champion after defeating Ons Jabeur to claim the Wimbledon title.

- GEORGE SESSIONS

In the first women's singles final at the All England Club between two new slam finalists for 60 years, the 23-year-old came from a set down to claim a 3-6 6-2 6-2 victory.

Rybakina has shown with her exceptional ball striking and calm temperament that she is a deserving major champion, but she has found herself caught in a storm not of her own making.

When Wimbledon Wimbledon organisers decided to ban Russian and Belarusian athletes following the invasion of Ukraine, it was partly to avoid the propaganda opportunities should British royalty end up presenting a player from one of those two countries with the trophy.