Elena Rybakina’s only reaction to winning the final point of the Wimbledon title today was a faint smile and a little wave to her folks in the box. It was the most sedate on-court celebration I have ever seen from a winner on center court. The twenty-three-old, six-foot-tall, blonde, lean, and introverted Russian (technically a citizen of Kazakhstan. She has a Kazakhstan passport, but reportedly still lives in Moscow) played on the center court without any trappings of the enormity of the occasion, or the nerves that go with playing the most distinguished Tennis tournament in the world. At least, there wasn’t any outward display of emotions. Like the great Steffi Graf, Rybakina rarely lets her inner turmoil show on her face. She played a solid game today: Great serves, percentage ground strokes, and calmer nerves got her through the match in three sets, against an opponent, who is as wily, crafty, and mercurial a tennis player as we will ever see on the court. Ons Jabeur – from the small African country of Tunisia – was the clear favorite, but it was Rybakina’s afternoon to win.
Over the years, we have seen some remarkable talent in Women’s tennis. The era of dominance is no more. The field is wide open, and many young players from different backgrounds and social conditions are staking their claim on a slot in the world ranking. Though the William sisters continue to grace most of the grand slam tournaments, it is clear, that they are well past their prime, and even if the will to win is still intact in them, their bodies have stopped cooperating. There is a lot of churn in the sport, and it is impossible to predict a winner anymore with any degree of certitude. This is good for tennis on the whole, but a little dampening for tennis fans. One only hopes that the likes of Rybakina and Ons will strive to consolidate their games and have a long haul in the sport. Given the nature of sports these days, the money involved, and the prolific publicity, it is easy for players to lose focus, become disillusioned, or otherwise fritter away the energy and the discipline it requires to stay focussed and on top for a length of time.
Winning Wimbledon is a big deal in tennis. It is the Mecca of the sport, and whether Rybakina likes it or not, she will be the cynosure of all eyes for some time, at least until the US open in September. To handle this attention will not be easy, especially for a girl who has had to fight odds to reach this level. But looking at Rybakina, and her attitude so far, it does seem she has the capacity to handle this fame with equanimity. On the other hand, what a proud journey it has been for Ons Jabeur – the first Arab woman to make it this far in the game. I love her tennis and her charm. There is a finesse and touch to her game we haven’t seen in a long time. More than anything else, it is Ons’s astute and instinctive tennis intelligence that shines out. She can pull out a stunning angle on a difficult shot, or a deft touch on a drop shot with equal felicity. And she thoroughly enjoys the game, which adds to the pleasure of watching her play with such gay abandon, not afraid to experiment or try the impossible.
This is the centenary of the center court at Wimbledon. What a hallowed ground it has been for Tennis, for sporting dignity in general, and for graceful traditions? Very few sporting events or venues can equal the austerity of the Wimbledon center court. It is a tribute to the English that they have retained a firm handle on the past even as they march into the future. The modern generation may smirk at the slightly eccentric traditions of the Wimbledon championships, but few will disagree that there is an undeniable beauty and a sense of continuity about it. We are now used to seeing the Duchess of Cambridge, the elegant Kate Middleton, gracing the closing ceremony of the Women’s final. She continues the honorable tradition at the center court with equal elegance and poise as her predecessor did for decades.
Djokovic plays Kyrgios tomorrow in the Men’s final. It promises to be interesting. I like Kyrgios’s game on grass, but the favorite to win is Djokovic. Nick has a chance if he can focus on his game and keep his temper and histrionics under control. He has shown he can do that during this tournament. But tomorrow will be the real test.