Baltacha Retires Immediately

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 19th November 2013

Baltacha Retires Immediately

epa03202743 British player Elena Baltacha in action against Russia's Maria Kirilenko during their first round match of the Estoril Open 2012 tennis tournament at Jamor complex in Oeiras, Portugal, 01 May 2012. Kirilenko won 7-6(6) and 6-1. EPA/JOSE SENA GOULAO |

Injury-plagued British battler Elena Baltacha has given up on her tennis career and will now concentrate on coaching.

The one-time WTA No. 49 had been plagued by fitness problems throughout her time on court and quit the game aged 30. The No. 261 posted career wins over top-10 players and grand slam winners Li Na and Francesca Schiavone.

“It just feels it’s the right time,” said Baltacha. “My body has taken such a bruising over the last 16 years and that’s finally taken its toll. I have had some amazing experiences through playing tennis – some incredible highs and some very low lows – and I wouldn’t change any of them, but now my mind and my body are telling me it’s time to move on to a new phase of my life.

“I still absolutely love tennis and I want to take that passion and put it into learning to be the best coach I can be so that I can take all my experiences as a player and use that to help develop the next generation of British tennis players.”

Baltacha played while suffering for years with a liver condition which she picked up as a 19-year-old. Her best grand slam showings were the third round at the Australian Open in 2005 and 2010, and at Wimbledon in 2002.

10sballs.com wants to congratulate Elena Baltacha ! What a great sportswoman. Elena was the first female player to wear the 10sballs.com patch. We will always appreciate all her efforts on our behalf as well as the world of tennis. We were introduced to the very lovely Elena by the dynamic Eleanor Preston. Eleanor helped Elena put her junior girls tennis program on the map in Ipswitch. That is the program which Elena and her coach Niño Severino established years ago. With all Elena’s health issues she still travelled the world and represented Britain as the number one woman. We will miss you dear girl. Good luck !

Topics: 10sballs, Elena Baltacha, Francesca Schiavone, Li Na, Sports, Tennis, Tennis News, Wta