Wimbledon 2022 winner Elena Rybakina dismisses ‘Russian product’ claims

Elena Rybakina. Pic/AFP

Newly-crowned Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina on Tuesday dismissed Russian claims that she was its "product" as she received a hero's welcome in Kazakhstan, which she represented.

Russian and Belarusian players were banned from Wimbledon after Russia sent troops to Ukraine, but Moscow-born Rybakina was able to play as she had switched her allegiance to Kazakhstan in 2018. Rybakina, 23, told journalists when asked to comment on the "product" tag.

Also Read: 4-time Olympic gold-medallist Mo Farah reveals he was smuggled into UK as a child

"Not everyone is able to continue at the professional level and achieve some successes. Only a small number [can] and in this way I am very lucky. So I am of course not really in agreement with that phrasing."

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever