<p>Russian-born Elena Rybakina powered back from a set down against Ons Jabeur to win the Wimbledon title on Saturday, denying the Tunisian world number two the chance to make African tennis history.</p>.<p>Jabeur was in charge at the start of the match but the 17th seed, representing Kazakhstan, regrouped and dropped just four more games on the way to a 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 victory.</p>.<p>"I never felt anything like this before," said the champion. "Congratulations to Ons for everything you have achieved.</p>.<p>"You are an inspiration to Tunisians and everybody. You played a great match."</p>.<p>Jabeur, 27, started in style, breaking Rybakina in the third game of the match when the Kazakh went long with a backhand.</p>.<p>She followed that with a hold to love that included a delicious backhand pass angled past her opponent at the net.</p>.<p>Rybakina was under intense pressure on her own serve again as the set threatened to run away from her but she dug deep to hold for 3-2.</p>.<p>But she failed to force a single break point on the sun-baked Centre Court in the first set and an error-strewn service game gifted the set to Jabeur.</p>.<p>As Jabeur celebrated with a fist-pump, Rybakina returned to her chair contemplating a costly 17 unforced errors.</p>.<p>But momentum shifted immediately at the start of the second set as Rybakina broke Jabeur before holding for a 2-0 lead.</p>.<p>Rybakina had now found her rhythm and Jabeur had to battle hard to hold to stay in touch.</p>.<p>The 23-year-old Kazakh, who stands six feet (1.84 metres) tall, then fended off three break points before breaking again to take a 4-1 lead when Jabeur went long with a forehand.</p>.<p>Rybakina levelled the match with an ace as Jabeur reflected on four missed break-point opportunities in the set.</p>.<p>The 17th seed was first to strike in the decider, breaking straight away to heap the pressure on Jabeur.</p>.<p>The Tunisian squandered three break points in the sixth game as her frustration mounted and that proved to be her last chance.</p>.<p>Rybakina showed a few nerves in serving out for the set but won with her first championship point when Jabeur went long with a backhand.</p>.<p>Rybakina, playing in her first Slam final, switched allegiance to Kazakhstan in 2018.</p>.<p>Russian and Belarusian players are banned from Wimbledon this year following the invasion of Ukraine.</p>.<p>Rybakina had never got past the quarter-finals of a Slam before this year's Wimbledon.</p>.<p>Jabeur congratulated the winner, saying: "Hopefully next time it will be mine".</p>.<p>"Thanks to my team for support and believing in me," she said. "I love this tournament. I feel sad but that's tennis -- there can only be one winner."</p>
<p>Russian-born Elena Rybakina powered back from a set down against Ons Jabeur to win the Wimbledon title on Saturday, denying the Tunisian world number two the chance to make African tennis history.</p>.<p>Jabeur was in charge at the start of the match but the 17th seed, representing Kazakhstan, regrouped and dropped just four more games on the way to a 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 victory.</p>.<p>"I never felt anything like this before," said the champion. "Congratulations to Ons for everything you have achieved.</p>.<p>"You are an inspiration to Tunisians and everybody. You played a great match."</p>.<p>Jabeur, 27, started in style, breaking Rybakina in the third game of the match when the Kazakh went long with a backhand.</p>.<p>She followed that with a hold to love that included a delicious backhand pass angled past her opponent at the net.</p>.<p>Rybakina was under intense pressure on her own serve again as the set threatened to run away from her but she dug deep to hold for 3-2.</p>.<p>But she failed to force a single break point on the sun-baked Centre Court in the first set and an error-strewn service game gifted the set to Jabeur.</p>.<p>As Jabeur celebrated with a fist-pump, Rybakina returned to her chair contemplating a costly 17 unforced errors.</p>.<p>But momentum shifted immediately at the start of the second set as Rybakina broke Jabeur before holding for a 2-0 lead.</p>.<p>Rybakina had now found her rhythm and Jabeur had to battle hard to hold to stay in touch.</p>.<p>The 23-year-old Kazakh, who stands six feet (1.84 metres) tall, then fended off three break points before breaking again to take a 4-1 lead when Jabeur went long with a forehand.</p>.<p>Rybakina levelled the match with an ace as Jabeur reflected on four missed break-point opportunities in the set.</p>.<p>The 17th seed was first to strike in the decider, breaking straight away to heap the pressure on Jabeur.</p>.<p>The Tunisian squandered three break points in the sixth game as her frustration mounted and that proved to be her last chance.</p>.<p>Rybakina showed a few nerves in serving out for the set but won with her first championship point when Jabeur went long with a backhand.</p>.<p>Rybakina, playing in her first Slam final, switched allegiance to Kazakhstan in 2018.</p>.<p>Russian and Belarusian players are banned from Wimbledon this year following the invasion of Ukraine.</p>.<p>Rybakina had never got past the quarter-finals of a Slam before this year's Wimbledon.</p>.<p>Jabeur congratulated the winner, saying: "Hopefully next time it will be mine".</p>.<p>"Thanks to my team for support and believing in me," she said. "I love this tournament. I feel sad but that's tennis -- there can only be one winner."</p>