Rybakina propaganda coup for Russia

‘RUSSIAN-BORN star storms into Wimbledon final,’ cheered the Russia Today website. This is the kind of thing the

All England Club were hoping to avoid when, in response to the invasion of Ukraine, they banned Russian and Belarusian players from competing in the Championships. But Elena Rybakina — born, raised and resident in Moscow — changed nationality to Kazakh four years ago in search of funding and so here she was, destroying 2019 champion Simona Halep 6-3, 6-3 on her Centre Court debut to tee up a final against Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur. Listen carefully after the No 17 seed (right) smote a backhand return winner on match point and, among the cheers, one could almost hear the Kremlin propaganda machine cranking into action. Asked whether she feels she will be representing Russia tomorrow, Rybakina said: ‘I’m happy representing Kazakhstan. They believed in me. ‘I feel for the players who couldn’t come here, but I’m just enjoying playing on the biggest stage.’ The 23-year-old looks a major champion in waiting and would be the first Kazakh winner of the Wimbledon title. Or, as Russia Today put it, the first Russian-born player to win since Maria Sharapova in 2004.