Tennis: Players pay tribute to 'loved' Baltacha
Baltacha had only been diagnosed with the illness in January having retired in 2013.
MADRID (AFP) - The tennis world reacted with shock and sadness on Monday to the death of former British number one Elena Baltacha at the age of 30 after a short battle with liver cancer.
Born in Ukraine and brought up in Scotland, Baltacha had only been diagnosed with the illness in January having retired in 2013.
"Saddened to hear about Elena Baltacha s passing," 18-time Grand Slam champion Billie Jean King tweeted.
"My fondest memory with Bally was sharing a wonderful chat when we met the Queen at Wimbledon."
Britain s current number one Laura Robson added on Twitter: "Impossibly sad. Forever a teammate. Sweet dreams Bally."
A host of other leading players past and present such as Chris Evert, Lindsey Davenport, Ana Ivanovic and Petra Kvitova also expressed their sadness via social media.
Stacey Allaster, chairman and chief executive officer of the WTA, expressed the loss felt by all those on the tour.
"We are deeply grieved to lose our friend Elena Baltacha in her battle with cancer. Elena s journey was never an easy one and yet she consistently showed her strength, good humour and indomitable spirit," he said in a statement.
"The loss of this special person will have a significant impact on her fellow competitors who not only respected her, but more importantly, loved her.
"I am honoured that I had the opportunity to know Elena, to call her Bally as her friends do. She was a gift that was taken from us too soon; she will be deeply missed. On behalf of the WTA family of players and tournaments, our hearts and prayers go out to her loving and supportive husband Nino, her parents, brother and friends on this terribly sad day."
A minute s silence will be held before the start of the night session at the Madrid Open on Monday as a mark of respect to Baltacha.
The daughter of Sergei Baltacha, who played professional football for Ipswich Town and Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Baltacha was diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis, a chronic liver condition which compromises the immune system, aged 19.
Despite her illness and injury problems, she reached the third round of the Australian Open in 2005 and 2010, and achieved a career-high world ranking of 49.
She won 11 singles titles, made the third round of Wimbledon in 2002 and was a member of Great Britain s Fed Cup team for 11 years.
