Wimbledon star Elena Rybakina denies Russian ‘product’ claims

• Elena Rybakina was born in Moscow but now calls Kazakhstan home.
• Russian tennis chief Shamil Tarpischev said she was “our product” Russian players were not allowed to play at Wimbledon this year because of Ukraine crisis.
• Rybakhina switched allegiance from Russia to Kazakhstan in 2018.

Elena Rybakina, the new Wimbledon champion, denied on Tuesday that she was a “product” of Russia when she spoke in Kazak, the country she was there to represent.

This year, Russian and Belarusian players were not allowed to play at Wimbledon because Russia sent troops to Ukraine. However, Rybakina, who was born in Moscow but now calls Kazakhstan home, was able to play because she switched her allegiance to Kazakhstan in 2018.

At the weekend, when Russian tennis chief Shamil Tarpischev said that Rybakina was “our product” it seemed like Russia was taking credit for her Grand Slam win.

“It’s very nice! Well done Rybakina! We win the Wimbledon tournament,” Tarpischev said.

Yevgeny Kafelnikov, who used to be the best player in the world, said as much in a tweet on Monday.

“Buying a ready to use product from the producer does not take a lot of brains,” retired tennis champion and Olympic gold medalist Kafelnikov wrote.

Rybakina’s parents still live in Moscow, and she hasn’t said much about how much time she spends there during the tournament.

When journalists in Kazakhstan asked Rybakina about the “The transition from a junior to a professional career is very difficult,” label, she said, “product”

“A good team is needed. Not everyone is able to continue at 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.”

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