Elena Baltacha, a former British No. 1 tennis player, has died of liver cancer only months after retiring from the game, the Women’s Tennis Association announced on Sunday. She was 30.

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Baltacha, who represented Britain at the 2012 London Olympics, was diagnosed with the illness in January, two months after retiring from tennis due to ankle problems and weeks after she married her long-time coach Nino Severino.

The tennis association said she died peacefully surrounded by family and friends.

“We are heartbroken beyond words at the loss of our beautiful, talented and determined Bally,” Severino said in a statement. “She was an amazing person and she touched so many people with her inspirational spirit, her warmth and her kindness.”

Baltacha, who was born in Kiev but moved to Britain where her father Sergei was a professional football player for Ipswich Town, turned professional in 1997 and reached a career-high ranking of 49 in 2010.

She also reached the third round at Grand Slam tournaments three times – at Wimbledon in 2002, and at the Australian

Open in 2005 and 2010 – and had a total of 11 singles titles under her belt.

After being diagnosed with the chronic liver condition sclerosing cholangitis at 19, Baltacha dealt with illness throughout her career, receiving medication and regular blood tests.

“Elena’s journey was never an easy one and yet she consistently showed her strength, good humor and indomitable spirit,” WTA chairman Stacey Allaster said.

After her retirement in November, Baltacha had hoped to use her experience to develop the next generation of British players.

“We have lost a shining light from the heart of British tennis - a true role model, a great competitor and a wonderful friend,” former Fed Cup coach Iain Bates said. “We have so many special memories to cherish, but this leaves a gaping hole for everybody in both British and women’s tennis, and words simply cannot express how saddened we are by this news.”

Baltacha had already planned a tennis charity event in June, “Rally for Bally,” to raise money for a cancer hospital and her tennis academy. It will go ahead in her memory, with competitors including childhood friend Andy Murray, Martina Navratilova and Tim Henman.

“Bally was such a caring human being, always putting others before herself, and a warm, fun person,” the WTA’s Allaster said. “A shining example of her commitment to looking out for the welfare of others is the Elena Baltacha Academy of Tennis, which she established so that children from disadvantaged backgrounds could learn to play the game she loved so dearly.”

(FRANCE 24 with AP, REUTERS)



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