Elena Baltacha Named 2010 Player of the Year by British Tennis Media

Written by: Staff on 7th December 2010

Elena Baltacha Named 2010 Player of the Year by British Tennis Media

Elena Baltacha (GBR) |

British No.1 Elena Baltacha has been presented with the 2010 Services to Tennis Award by the Lawn Tennis Writers Association (LTWA) in its annual awards. Baltacha accepted her award at the organization’s annual lunch at The All England Club, Wimbledon on Tuesday, which was attended some of the biggest names in the sport. The award was presented to her by Virginia Wade, and she thanked the room of assembled guests and spoke of her pride at her 2010 accomplishments:

“It’s such an honor to get this award and it’s extra special to be recognized by the tennis media because they are the eyes and ears of the sport. We are very lucky in tennis that our sport gets such generous coverage and it’s much appreciated. This has been a fantastic year for me but I feel like there is a lot more to come. I’ve been working hard in the off-season and I’m ready to try and improve in 2011,” said Baltacha.

Her major accomplishments in 2010 included: breaking the top 50 rankings, three wins over top 10 players and above all setting up the Elena Baltacha Tennis Academy for disadvantaged girls in her home town of Ipswich.

“Bally thoroughly deserves this prestigious award. To be ranked around the world’s top 50 – and still improving – after battling through years of illness is sensational. Her determination, her positive approach and her consistent belief is an inspiration to all of us from club to professional level,” said David Luddy, the Chairman of the LTWA.

10sBalls.com would like to congratulate Elena Baltacha on this great achievement and for being such a fabulous ambassador for the sport of tennis!

About Elena Baltacha: Baltacha, 27, has enjoyed the best season of her career this year. 2010 highlights included breaking into the World’s Top 50 for the first time in September, beating top ten players Na Li (twice), Jie Zheng and reigning French Open champion Francesca Schiavone. She ended the season ranked 55, six spots of her career high of 49. Baltacha was diagnosed with the liver condition primary schlerosing cholangitis at the age of 19 and is patron of the Children’s Liver Disease Foundation. She is coached by Nino Severino.

About the LTWA: The Lawn Tennis Writers Association is made up of correspondents, columnists and commentators and is one of the most influential organisations in British tennis. Its management committee voted unanimously for Baltacha to take home its most prestigious annual award, which is presented each December at the LTWA lunch held in the Debenture Holders’ lounge at the All England Club, Wimbledon.

Topics: Bally, Baltacha Tennis, British Tennis, Disadvantaged Girls, Elena Baltacha, England Club, Eyes And Ears, Francesca Schiavone, French Open, French Open Champion, Lawn Tennis, Luddy, Prestigious Award, Professional Level, Tennis Academy, Tennis Media, Town Of Ipswich, Virginia Wade, Wimbledon, Writers Association