The Wimbledon champion has dropped to No 25 in the world despite her triumph and is looking to rise again at the US Open
“I already forgot [about the bet] – we were laughing around,” Rybakina says. “Before the final, he told me that he would do it. So, he did it. For me, it’s still crazy, I can’t believe it. But it is what it is. We had a bet.”
The days that followed were a blur. Rybakina was greeted by masses when arriving home, then received an Order of Friendship medal from the prime minister of Kazakhstan, Alikhan Smailov. She pledged to donate the bonus she received from the Kazakh Federation to dog rescue and junior tennis in the country. For a calm, introverted person, the spotlight was intense.Photograph: Pavel Mikheyev/Reuters
Rybakina’s time at Wimbledon had provided enough outside noise. With the All England Club remaining steadfast on itsbecause of the invasion of Ukraine, the deeper she went into the tournament the more her identity as a Moscow‑born player who chose to represent Kazakhstan to advance her career was interrogated. In Kazakhstan, Rybakina responded to a question by showing her passport to the audience.
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