MARTINA HINGIS , VICTORIA AZARENKA & HEATHER WATSON JOIN SUNDAY’S RALLY FOR BALLY , PLEASE DONATE , TWEET #RALLY4BALLY

Written by: Staff on 14th June 2014

MARTINA HINGIS , VICTORIA AZARENKA & HEATHER WATSON JOIN SUNDAY'S RALLY FOR BALLY , PLEASE DONATE , TWEET #RALLY4BALLY |

Hingis, Azarenka and Watson join Rally for Bally

Fifteen time Grand Slam champion Martina Hingis, double Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka and British No.1 Heather Watson will join a host of stars taking part in the Rally For Bally on Sunday as some of the biggest names in tennis join together for three star-studded exhibition matches in London, Birmingham and Eastbourne.

Elena “Bally” Baltacha.

The Rally for Bally is a national fundraising effort in memory of former British No.1 Elena Baltacha, known as Bally, who died of liver cancer on 4th May. All funds raised will be split equally between the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity and the Elena Baltacha Foundation, the charity attached to the Elena Baltacha Academy of Tennis which Bally set up to help children from all backgrounds play tennis.

Hingis, who was ranked No.1 in the world and won five Grand Slam singles titles as well as nine in doubles and one in mixed doubles, joins an incredible line-up at The Queen’s Club, where Andy Murray and Aegon Championships Tournament Director Ross Hutchins will lead ‘Team Andy’ and ‘Team Ross’. Hingis, Azarenka and Watson will be joined by Murray’s fellow Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli who has already been announced. Laura Robson, Watson’s Fed Cup team-mate, is injured and unable to play but will be on court helping to MC the match.

“I am so happy to be involved in the Rally For Bally because I think it’s going to be a very special day for everyone in tennis,” said Hingis. “The loss of Elena was very sad and it touched everyone inside and outside of tennis but it’s great that everyone in her sport is pulling together like this. It’s the perfect way to remember her and also to raise money for causes that mattered to her.”

Elena Baltacha. EPA/GERRY PENNY

Victoria Azarenka added: “Elena was one of us. I will always remember our matches, what a fighter she was and how much she loved tennis. We will always miss her. The whole of the tennis world is together in the Rally For Bally, to try to raise as much money as possible for the Academy that she was so passionate about, and to fund the on-going fight against cancer.”

The Aegon Classic in Birmingham and the Aegon International in Eastbourne also boast dazzling line-ups of past and current players. Martina Navratilova, winner of a staggering 59 Grand Slam titles in singles, doubles and mixed doubles, will be joined by former British No.1s Tim Henman and Anne Keothavong and former Wimbledon mixed doubles champion Jamie Murray.

Former Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova and fellow WTA player Agnieszka Radwanska – who will be seeded one and two for the Aegon International will be joined on court in Eastbourne by former British No.1 Greg Rusedski and current British No. 1 in doubles Colin Fleming.

Elena Baltacha.

Players involved in the Rally For Bally on Sunday, across all three venues:

The Queen’s Club, London:

· Andy Murray

· Ross Hutchins

· Martina Hingis

· Marion Bartoli

· Victoria Azarenka

· Heather Watson

· Laura Robson

Edgbaston Priory Club, Birmingham:

· Martina Navratilova

· Tim Henman

· Jamie Murray

· Anne Keothavong

Devonshire Park, Eastbourne:

· Petra Kvitova

· Agnieszka Radwanksa

· Greg Rusedski

· Colin Fleming

Rally for Bally match start times:

· Queen’s: 2nd on after 2pm start (singles final first)

· Birmingham: 3rd on after 11am start

· Eastbourne: 3rd on after 11am start

A Rally For Bally JustGiving page has been set up, and donations can be made quickly and easily here: www.justgiving.com/RallyForBally. Or, text “EBAL60 £10″ to 70070, to make, for example, a £10 donation via your mobile phone. We would be very grateful if you are able to tweet the link above, using the hashtag #Rally4Bally

For more information go to www.LTA.org.uk.

About The Royal Marsden

The Royal Marsden is a world-leading cancer centre specialising in diagnosis, treatment, care, education and research. The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity raises money to help The Royal Marsden provide world-class care for cancer patients, to support the hospital’s pioneering work in cancer research. The charity enables the hospital to continue its groundbreaking work for the benefit of cancer patients worldwide.

Bally with girls from the Elena Baltacha Academy of Tennis.

About the Elena Baltacha Academy of Tennis

The Elena Baltacha Academy of Tennis is a charity set up in 2012 by Elena Baltacha and her husband Nino Severino to help children from disadvantaged backgrounds and deprived areas to learn to play tennis. The charity funds free and subsidised coaching and also supports free tennis taster sessions in schools in all sections of the community. The charity is based in Ipswich, UK.

Topics: Agnieszka Radwanska, Andy Murray, Elena Baltacha, Heather Watson, Laura Robson, Martina Hingis, Petra Kvitova, Rally For Bally, Tennis, Tennis News, Victoria Azarenka

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10sBalls_com says:

June 14, 2014 at 8:45 am

MARTINA HINGIS , VICTORIA AZARENKA & HEATHER WATSON JOIN SUNDAY’S RALLY FOR BALLY, PLEASE DONATE, TWEET #RALLY4BALLY- http://t.co/9uArV3T6yJ
martinahingisCH says:

June 14, 2014 at 8:54 am

RT @10sBalls_com: MARTINA HINGIS , VICTORIA AZARENKA & HEATHER WATSON JOIN SUNDAY’S RALLY FOR BALLY, PLEASE DONATE, TWEET #RALLY4BALLY- htt…
Salil5555 says:

June 14, 2014 at 1:42 pm

RT @VictoriaUpdate: MARTINA HINGIS , VICTORIA AZARENKA & HEATHER WATSON JOIN … http://t.co/T1fvkX2kle