Newly-crowned Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina received a warm welcome in Kazakhstan as the country celebrated its first Grand Slam tennis trophy.
📍Nur-Sultan pic.twitter.com/uAlq4VLsvb
— Kazakhstan Tennis Federation (@ktf_kz) July 12, 2022
The 23-year-old Rybakina held her Venus Rosewater Dish as she took a selfie with about 150 excited and cheerful Kazakhs in Nur-Sultan.
During the visit, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Alikhan Smailov honored Rybakina with the Order of Merit Second Class for great sporting achievements and contribution to the country.
“With great excitement, the whole of Kazakhstan watched how you beat the biggest players in the world. To win a Grand Slam title means to live up to the expectations of your compatriots and promote tennis in Kazakhstan. I am sure that this victory will inspire many new athletes.” Smailov said.
During the reception in Nur-Sultan, the Russian-born Rybakina was showing her Kazakhstani passport and identity card as she posed for photographers.
