The Wimbledon champion switched from Russia to represent their ambitious neighbours and inspire a new generation
As the final days of high school beckoned for Elena Rybakina five years ago, she found herself at a crossroads in her life. Rybakina had enjoyed a strong junior career that saw her reach No 3 in the world, but she still had to decide whether to throw herself into the meat grinder of professional tennis or take up one of the countless scholarship offers she received from universities across the United States.
Despite her junior pedigree, Rybakina had received no financial support from her home country – Russia – and her parents did not have the funds to finance the prohibitively expensive lifestyle of an aspiring professional tennis player. Her elders were naturally more set on the least risky option.