Elena Baltacha

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

In this name that follows Eastern Slavic naming customs, the patronymic is Sergeevna and the family name is Baltacha.
Elena Baltacha
Fed Cup
33–16
Elena Baltacha
Medal record
Tennis
Representing  Scotland
Commonwealth Youth Games
Silver medal – second place 2000 Edinburgh Team

Elena Sergeevna Baltacha (Ukrainian: Олена Сергіївна Балтача; 14 August 1983 – 4 May 2014) was a Ukrainian-born British professional tennis player. Being a four-time winner of the AEGON Awards, she was also a long-term British No. 1, a position she held intermittently from 2002 to 2012.[1] However, as a result of her absence from competition due to knee surgery,[2] she dropped down the world rankings and at the time of her retirement on 18 November 2013, she was ranked as the world No. 221 and British No. 6. Her career-high ranking of world No. 49 was achieved in September 2010.[3]

Over the course of her career, she won 11

Nottingham Challenge
.

Baltacha was diagnosed with liver cancer in January 2014, just a few weeks after her marriage to tennis coach Nino Severino. She died on 4 May 2014, aged 30.[4][5]

Biography

Born in

Sergei played football for St Mirren and Millwall.[7]

After arriving at

Paisley, Scotland, and attending Castlehead High School.[8]

Living in Ipswich, on 8 December 2013, a month after her retirement from tennis, she married her coach Niño Severino,[9] a retired professional tennis coach turned multi-sports specialist in mental and movement training coach, who also works with Ipswich Town F.C. and in coaching martial arts athletes.[10] In 2010, the couple formed the Elena Baltacha Academy of Tennis, which is still run by Niño and based around the facilities at Ipswich Sports Club, where she trained during her career.[11]

At the age of 19, she was diagnosed with the liver condition

Royal Marsden Cancer Charity and the Elena Baltacha Academy of Tennis, which she set up to help disadvantaged children take up the sport.[16]
Baltacha is interred in the Ipswich Millennium Cemetery.

In May 2015, it was announced that the trophy at the Nottingham Open was to be named the "Elena Baltacha trophy" in her honour.[18]

Career

Junior years (1997–2001)

Baltacha played her first match on the ITF Junior Circuit in February 1997 and her last at the 2001 US Open junior tournament. She never won a title but reached the final of two junior tournaments, at the 14th Bahia Junior Cup and at the LTA International Junior Tournament, Bisham Abbey. Baltacha also reached the semifinals of three tournaments and the quarterfinals of six others. In 2001, she reached the semifinals of the Wimbledon juniors championships where she was beaten by eventual champion, Angelique Widjaja. Over the course of her career as a junior, she gained wins over players such as Svetlana Kuznetsova, Gisela Dulko (twice) and Anne Keothavong. Her career-high singles ranking was world No. 77 and her final singles win–loss record was 40–40.[19] Aside from junior ITF events, Baltacha also competed in the Commonwealth Youth Games in 2000, representing Scotland, and won a silver medal alongside Karen Paterson and Mhairi Brown in the women's team event.

As a doubles competitor, Baltacha won four tournaments and lost in the final of four more. She also lost in the semifinal stages of tournaments four times and the quarterfinals eight times. Her final doubles win–loss record was 37–30 and her career-high doubles ranking was world No. 60.[19]

1997–2000

In November 1997, Baltacha made her debut on the ITF Circuit in Edinburgh where she was beaten in the first round of the qualifying stages in three sets by Danica Kovakova. She did however reach the quarterfinals of the doubles tournament.[20] She played only three adult ITF tournaments in 1998 (Birmingham, Southsea and Glasgow, all $10k events) and lost in the qualifying stages for each of them.[20] 1999 saw her first ITF main draw appearances. She competed in four tournaments in total and reached the quarterfinals of the $10k tournament in Glasgow.[20]

In April

Tier-I event held in Zürich. The very next week, she was a quarterfinalist at the $50k tournament in Cardiff. Her season ending singles ranking was 397.[20]

2001–02

Baltacha reached the quarterfinals of her first tournament of the year in January, a $10k tournament in Jersey, when she was forced to retire early in the second set. She was out of action until late April when she reached the quarterfinals of the $10k tournament in Hatfield, Hertfordshire. Two weeks later she reached the quarterfinals of the $25k tournament in Edinburgh as a qualifier. She followed this up with a run to the semifinals of the $25k event in Surbiton. She was then given a wildcard into the qualifying draw for the

Tier-II Eastbourne International where she beat Virginie Razzano, in the final round of qualifying to reach the main draw. Conchita Martínez beat her in the first round. Just a week later she was given a wildcard into the main draw of Wimbledon to give her the first appearance in the main draw of a Grand Slam championship. She was beaten by Nathalie Dechy in round one. Following Wimbledon she reached yet another ITF quarterfinal; this one in a $25k tournament in Felixstowe. She lost in round one of the qualifying tournament for the US Open in August and competed in four more ITF tournaments, reaching the quarterfinals of two of them (both $25k). She ended the year with a singles ranking of world No. 248.[20]

In February 2002, Baltacha reached the quarterfinals of the $25k tournament in Sutton, London. She played for

Birmingham Classic, a Tier III event. She broke this string of losses with a win over Alina Jidkova in round one of the qualifying draw for the Tier-II Eastbourne International. She was beaten by Elena Likhovtseva in the second round of qualifying. She was then given a wildcard into the main draw of Wimbledon where she beat María Vento-Kabchi in the first round[21] and Amanda Coetzer in the second[22] before losing to Likhovtseva (for the second time in two consecutive tournaments) in the third round.[23]

Her next tournament was the $25k event in Felixstowe which she won by beating Irishwoman Kelly Liggan in the final to give her the first ITF Circuit singles title of her career.[24] Two weeks later, she won her second title in Pamplona, again $25k, when she defeated Virginie Pichet in the final. After this, she attempted to qualify for the US Open but lost in the first round of the qualifying for the second consecutive year. She played two more $25k tournaments after the US Open, Glasgow and Southampton, where she reached the semifinals and quarterfinals, respectively. Her season ending ranking for 2002 was world No. 157.[20]

2003–04

Baltacha's

Jelena Dokić, to fight for her eventual three-set victory.[26] This was Baltacha's final match of the year as she underwent invasive surgery after Wimbledon (to determine the cause of her persistent liver troubles) which put her out of action until 2004. As a result, her year-end singles ranking fell to world number 373.[20]

Baltacha returned to action in January

Romania by beating Cigdem Duru and Monica Niculescu, respectively. She also beat Irishwoman Yvonne Doyle in the Europe/Africa Group II Play-offs. In June, Samantha Stosur beat her in the first round of the Birmingham and Cara Black beat her in the final round of the qualifying tournament for the Eastbourne International one week later.[27] Baltacha then headed to Wimbledon main draw courtesy of another wildcard. She demolished world No. 61, Marta Marrero, in round one[28] before falling to three-time Grand Slam champion, Jennifer Capriati, in the second round.[29]

Between Wimbledon and the US Open qualifying tournament (where she reached the second round before being beaten by Angelique Widjaja), she suffered three consecutive first-round losses in $50k tournaments in the United States. After the US Open, she reached the final of a $25k event in Jersey where she was beaten by Emma Laine. She spent the remainder of her year competing on the ITF Circuit and her year-end singles ranking rose to world No. 202.[20]

2005–06

In the

Ukrainian Alona Bondarenko
.

Baltacha then failed to qualify for two consecutive

Tier-I events before losing in the first round of qualifying for the French Open when she lost to Elise Tamaëla. In June, three consecutive wildcards granted her entry into the main draws of the DFS Classic, the Aegon International and Wimbledon where she was beaten by Milagros Sequera in the second round (having beaten Alona Bondarenko in the first), Conchita Martínez in round one[33] and Sabine Klaschka in the first round, respectively. Following Wimbledon, Baltacha travelled to the ITF Circuit in the United States without much success; she won only one of five matches she played in the run-up to the US Open qualifying draw where she also lost in the first round of qualifying. She then returned to the ITF Circuit and reached the quarterfinals of the $25k event in Glasgow, the semifinals of the $25k event in Bolton and won the $25k tournament in Jersey. Her year-end singles ranking for the 2005 season was world No. 122.[20]

For Baltacha,

prolapsed disc on 7 June and spent the rest of the season out-of-action recovering[36] and as a result, her season-ending ranking was world No. 347.[20]

2007–08

By the time Baltacha returned to action in March

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. She qualified before losing to Sorana Cîrstea in the first round. She then competed in two more $25k events in March (reaching the quarterfinals of one) before heading to Bulgaria to compete in the Fed Cup for Britain. She played two singles matches (winning one) and four doubles matches (winning two). Following this, she reached two consecutive $25k semifinals in Incheon and Gimcheon, one as a qualifier and the other as a lucky loser. She consolidated these results with a run to the quarterfinals of another $25k in Changwon. In June, she received a wildcard into the main draw of the Birmingham Classic where she showed "fighting spirit" in her first round loss to Milagros Sequera.[37] She then received a wildcard into the qualifying draw for the Hastings Direct International and proved she deserved it by dropping only nine games in the three matches she won to qualify. She then went on to beat the British number one, Anne Keothavong, in round one of the main draw in a tense three set match and join fellow Britons, Melanie South and Katie O'Brien in the second round, making this the first year since 1991 that three British women reached the second round.[38] She could not quite match up to world No. 14, Nicole Vaidišová, in the second round though and was beaten in straight sets.[39] She then received another wildcard into the main draw of Wimbledon but wasn't able to overcome the 19th seed, Katarina Srebotnik.[40]

After Wimbledon, Baltacha headed to the United States to compete again on the ITF Circuit where she reached the quarterfinals of the $50k event in Lexington, Kentucky. After being beaten in the first round of qualifying for the US Open by Evgeniya Rodina, Baltacha headed to Japan to attempt to qualify for the Japan Open. She beat María Emilia Salerni, Ágnes Szatmári and Natalie Grandin to qualify and then continued winning by defeating Yan Zi in the first round. She was defeated by No. 5 seed and eventual champion, Virginie Razzano, in round two. This was followed by an unsuccessful attempt to qualify for a Tier-III event in Bangkok and then a return to the ITF Circuit where she reached the semifinals in Makinohara and the quarterfinals in Hamanako (both $25k), losing both times to Seiko Okamoto. Her final singles ranking of 2007 was world No. 187.[20]

Baltacha began her

Doha (Tier I) and Dubai (Tier II) but was unsuccessful in both. She then returned to action on the ITF Circuit and won her next two consecutive tournaments: Jersey ($25k) and Torhout ($75k). In May, she again lost in the first round of the qualifying tournament for the French Open and in June she again received a wildcard into the main draw of the Birmingham Classic where she was beaten in round one by Ekaterina Makarova. Another wildcard granted her entry into the qualifying rounds of the International Women's Open where she won her first match against Naomi Cavaday before retiring at one set down in her second match against Tsvetana Pironkova. She then played in the main draw of Wimbledon (again courtesy of a wildcard) where she beat Angelique Kerber in the first round.[43] She was defeated in the second round by eventual semifinalist Zheng Jie, in straight sets.[44]

Baltacha then lost three consecutive matches before defeating Anna Korzeniak and Carly Gullickson in the first two rounds of qualifying for the US Open. She fell just short of reaching the main draw when she lost to Julie Coin in the final round of qualifying. She played seven more higher-level ITF tournaments over the rest of the year and reached the quarterfinals in one of them: the $50k event in Ismaning where she lost to Julia Görges. Her year-end ranking was world No. 136.[20]

2009

Baltacha began

world No. 1, Amélie Mauresmo
. Despite surprising many by taking the first set, Baltacha eventually lost in three sets.

February saw Baltacha represent her country in the

Georgie Stoop in the first round before falling in an epic three-set battle with the then world No. 27, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. She received a wildcard into the main draw of Wimbledon where she came up against world No. 33, Alona Bondarenko, in the first round. Baltacha managed to come back from a set down to win in three sets. She then went on to lose to Kirsten Flipkens in round two.[48]

This was followed by three consecutive losses in the first round of qualifying for WTA events before Baltacha won two matches to qualify for the

Rogers Cup, a Premier tournament. She faced former world No. 1, Kim Clijsters, in the second tournament of her comeback and lost to the Belgian in straight sets. Following this, she reached the final round of qualifying for the US Open before going on to win the $75k in Shrewsbury. She beat fellow Brit, Katie O'Brien, in the final. This result was enough to put both finalists into the top 100 for the first time in each of their careers.[49] After this, Baltacha reached the semifinals of one more $50k, the second round of a $100k (where she had to withdraw due to food poisoning) and the quarterfinals of a $75k tournament. These showings helped her accumulate enough points to catapult her back to the British number-one spot. Her year-end ranking was world No. 87.[20]

2010

Baltacha winning her first match at the US Open and breaking into the top 50

Baltacha began her

Bosnia and Herzegovina team, respectively. She also partnered Sarah Borwell
in two doubles matches, winning both.

Following this performance in the Fed Cup, Elena competed in a $100k tournament in Midland, Michigan where she reached the final and defeated

Italian Open, a Premier-5 event. In her final event before the French Open, Baltacha participated in the Internationaux de Strasbourg as the eighth seed but was forced to retire in the second round due to a back injury. In her first round match at the French Open, she was beaten by Agnieszka Radwańska
, in straight sets.

Her grass-court season then began and the

Nottingham Trophy, a $50k event, gave Baltacha the second title of the year. She didn't drop a set throughout the tournament, including in the final when she faced Carly Gullickson. Baltacha stayed on grass for her next tournament, the Birmingham Classic, where she was the number 12 seed. She was forced to retire after losing the first set in her first round match against Kaia Kanepi. Her next event was the Eastbourne International where during her first-round match with Li Na, the Chinese player had to retire with a leg injury after winning the first set on a tie-break. After a second-round win over another Chinese player, Zheng Jie, she lost to Sam Stosur in three sets in the quarterfinals. Nevertheless, this was the first time since 1983 that a British woman had progressed to the quarterfinals of this tournament. Baltacha then suffered a disappointing first-round loss at Wimbledon. She lost in three sets to Petra Martić
, after leading by a set and 5–2.

In the lead up to the

Korea Open and a $100k in Torhout but losing in the qualifying rounds of the Pan Pacific Open and the Kremlin Cup. She had also been selected to represent Scotland at the Commonwealth Games but chose not to participate due to the poor sanitation in the athletes' village, which, as a result of her chronic liver problem, may have left her susceptible to picking up infections. Her year-end singles ranking was world No. 54.[20]

2011

2011

Baltacha began the year at the Hobart International, but lost to Roberta Vinci in the second round. Baltacha then entered the Australian Open without having to qualify. In the first round, she defeated American qualifier Jamie Hampton. In round two, however, she was defeated by former world number 1 and 2004 Australian Open Champion Justine Henin. Her next tournament was the Pattaya Open, where she lost to sixth seed Peng Shuai.

Baltacha lost in the first round of the

Nottingham Challenge without dropping a single set throughout the tournament, defeating Petra Cetkovská
in the final.

An improvement on the previous years disappointment, Baltacha reached the second round of Wimbledon by a victory over

Barbora Záhlavová-Strýcová and third seed Julia Görges before a quarterfinal loss to Aravane Rezaï
.

Baltacha's next tournament was the

Kimiko Date-Krumm
, in straight sets.

2012

Baltacha began 2012 playing at the

Stéphanie Foretz Gacon
.

Baltacha was selected for the British Fed Cup team to play in the Europe/Africa Group 1 match in Eilat, Israel on 1–4 February 2012. In the group stages she played singles, defeating opponents from Portugal,[50] the Netherlands[51] and Israel. The team qualified for a play-off against Austria in which Baltacha defeated Tamira Paszek. The team won 2–0, which qualified them for a place in the World Group II promotion play-off in April.[52]

At the

Court Philippe Chatrier (Centre Court) of the Open. Stosur won without dropping a set. Baltacha did however have a better run at Wimbledon, making the second round but lost to the previous year's champion Petra Kvitová in straight sets. In the first round, she had come through a gruelling three setter against Karin Knapp, despite carrying shin splints and picking up an injury during the match. Baltacha competed at the Summer Olympics in London for the first time in her career in both the singles and the doubles events (partnering Anne Keothavong). On 28 July 2012, Baltacha made her Olympics debut with a win against Ágnes Szávay of Hungary, defeating her in straight sets.[53] She was then defeated by 11th seed Ana Ivanovic
in the second round in a very tight encounter. This was Baltacha's last professional match of 2012, taking time off to undergo foot surgery.

2013

Baltacha at the 2013 US Open, her last major appearance

Baltacha's first tournament back after surgery was a $25k tournament in Pelham, Alabama, where she was a direct entrant into the main draw. She withdrew against Sharon Fichman in round one.

An illness to

Laura Robson's defeat in the third rubber meant that Baltacha had to gain a victory over María Irigoyen
. Baltacha lost in three sets, meaning that Great Britain would have to return to the Europe/Africa Group and attempt to qualify again next February.

Baltacha was handed a wildcard at the Brussels Open a week before Roland Garros. In the first round, she surprisingly defeated Stefanie Vögele but lost to the seventh seeded Varvara Lepchenko, in straight sets. At the French Open, Baltacha used her protected rankings points to earn a place in the first round. She was beaten in straight sets by Marina Erakovic. Following this defeat, Baltacha was handed a wildcard to play at the Nottingham Trophy, an ITF event in Nottingham, but again lost in the first round to sixth seed Vesna Dolonc.

Baltacha reached her first final of 2013 at the Nottingham Challenge following an impressive straight-sets victory over Italian Nastassja Burnett in the semifinals. She then beat the seventh seed Tadeja Majerič in the final in straight sets coming from behind in the first 2–5 down to claim her third title at Nottingham. Baltacha followed this success with a victory in the first round of the Birmingham Classic against Czech qualifier Kristýna Plíšková. Baltacha was eliminated in the second round by Maria Kirilenko.

Baltacha retired from professional tennis in November 2013.[54]

ITF Circuit finals

Singles: 14 (11 titles, 3 runner-ups)

Legend
$100,000 tournaments (2–1)
$75,000 tournaments (2–0)
$50,000 tournaments (2–0)
$25,000 tournaments (5–2)
$10,000 tournaments (0–0)
Finals by surface
Hard (7–3)
Clay (0–0)
Grass (4–0)
Carpet (0–0)
Outcome Date Tier Tournament Surface Opponent Score
Winner 8 July 2002 25,000 Felixstowe, United Kingdom Grass Republic of Ireland Kelly Liggan 4–6, 6–2, 6–3
Winner 22 July 2002 25,000 Pamplona, Spain Hard (i) France Virginie Pichet 6–2, 6–1
Runner-up 20 September 2004 25,000 Jersey, United Kingdom Hard (i) Finland Emma Laine 6–3, 2–6, 1–6
Runner-up 9 February 2005 25,000 Redbridge, United Kingdom Hard (i) Croatia Nika Ožegović 0–6, 3–6
Winner 12 October 2005 25,000 Jersey, United Kingdom Hard (i) Austria Daniela Kix 4–6, 4–6
Winner 26 March 2008 25,000 Jersey, United Kingdom Hard (i) Croatia Ana Vrljić 6–1, 6–3
Winner 1 April 2008 75,000 Torhout, Belgium Hard (i) Czech Republic Iveta Benešová 6–7(5), 6–1, 6–4
Winner 21 April 2009 25,000 Changwon, Korea Hard Japan Junri Namigata 6–3, 6–1
Winner 22 September 2009 75,000 GB Pro-Series Shrewsbury, UK Hard (i) United Kingdom Katie O'Brien 6–3, 4–6, 6–3
Winner 9 February 2010 100,000 Midland Classic, United States Hard (i) Czech Republic Lucie Hradecká 5–7, 6–2, 6–3
Winner 31 May 2010 50,000 Nottingham Trophy, UK Grass United States Carly Gullickson 6–2, 6–2
Winner 12 June 2011 100,000+H
Nottingham Challenge
, UK 		Grass Czech Republic Petra Cetkovská 7–5, 6–3
Runner-up 30 October 2011 100,000 ITF Poitiers, France Hard (i)
Kimiko Date-Krumm
 6–7(3), 4–6
Winner 16 June 2013 50,000
Nottingham Challenge
, UK 		Grass Slovenia Tadeja Majerič 7–5, 7–6(7)

Doubles: 8 (4 titles, 4 runner-ups)

Legend
$50,000 tournaments
$25,000 tournaments (4–3)
$10,000 tournaments (0–1)
Finals by surface
Hard (4–2)
Clay (0–1)
Grass (0–1)
Outcome Date Tier Tournament Surface Partnering Opponent Score
Runner-up 30 April 2001 10,000 Hatfield, UK Clay United Kingdom Nicola Trinder Russia Natalia Egorova
Russia Ekaterina Sysoeva 		3–6, 6–4, 1–6
Winner 15 July 2002 25,000 Valladolid, Spain Hard Madagascar Natacha Randriantefy New Zealand Leanne Baker
India Manisha Malhotra 		6–2, 6–3
Winner 22 July 2002 25,000 Pamplona, Spain Hard (i) Republic of Ireland Kelly Liggan Republic of Ireland Yvonne Doyle
Netherlands Susanne Trik 		6–7(6), 7–6(1), 6–3
Winner 11 October 2004 25,000 Sunderland, UK Hard (i) United Kingdom Jane O'Donoghue Slovakia Eva Fislová
Slovakia Stanislava Hrozenská 		6–1, 4–6, 6–2
Winner 22 September 2005 25,000 GB Pro-Series Glasgow, UK Hard (i) Estonia Margit Rüütel United Kingdom Anne Keothavong
United Kingdom Karen Paterson 		6–3, 6–7(2), 6–2
Runner-up 21 March 2006 25,000 Redding, United States Hard Israel Yevgenia Savransky Russia Vasilisa Bardina
United States Ahsha Rolle 		7–5, 5–7, 4–6
Runner-up 4 June 2007 25,000 Surbiton Trophy, UK Grass United Kingdom Naomi Cavaday United Kingdom Karen Paterson
United Kingdom Melanie South 		1–6, 4–6
Runner-up 21 April 2009 25,000 Changwon, Korea Hard United Kingdom Amanda Elliott Chinese Taipei Chang Kai-chen
Chinese Taipei Chen Yi 		4–6, 1–6

Performance timelines

Key
W  F  SF QF #R RR Q# DNQ A NH
(W) winner; (F) finalist; (SF) semifinalist; (QF) quarterfinalist; (#R) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; (RR) round-robin stage; (Q#) qualification round; (DNQ) did not qualify; (A) absent; (NH) not held; (SR) strike rate (events won / competed); (W–L) win–loss record.

Singles

Tournament 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 SR W–L Win %
Grand Slam tournaments
Australian Open A A 1R A 3R LQ A LQ 2R 3R 2R 1R A 0 / 6 6–6 50%
French Open A A LQ A LQ LQ A LQ LQ 1R 2R 1R 1R 0 / 4 1–4 20%
Wimbledon
 1R 3R 1R 2R 1R A 1R 2R 2R 1R 2R 2R 1R 0 / 12 7–12 37%
US Open LQ LQ A LQ LQ A LQ LQ LQ 2R 2R A LQ 0 / 2 2–2 50%
Win–loss 0–1 2–1 0–2 1–1 2–2 0–0 0–1 1–1 2–2 3–4 4–4 1–3 0–2 0 / 24 16–24 40%
Olympic Games
Summer Olympics NH A NH A NH 2R NH 0 / 1 1–1 50%
Year-end championships
WTA Tour Championships
 A 0 / 0 0–0 0%
Premier Mandatory tournaments
Indian Wells
 A 3R 2R 2R A 0 / 3 4–3 57%
Miami
 A LQ A LQ
2R
 2R 1R A 0 / 3 2–3 40%
Madrid NH A 0 / 0 0–0 0%
Beijing Not Tier I A 0 / 0 0–0 0%
Premier 5 tournaments
Dubai Not Tier I A 1R NP5 0 / 1 0–1 0%
Rome
 A LQ A LQ A 0 / 0 0–0 0%
Cincinnati
 Not Tier I LQ A 0 / 0 0–0 0%
Canada
 A
1R
 LQ A 0 / 1 0–1 0%
Tokyo
 A 0 / 0 0–0 0%
Titles/Finals 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0
Year-end ranking 242 157 373 202 122 347 187 136 89 55 50 172 220 $1,190,893

Women's doubles

Tournament 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Career W–L
Australian Open A A A A A A A A A 2R A A 1–1
French Open A A A A A A A A A A A A 0–0
Wimbledon
 1R 1R 1R 1R 2R A 1R 1R 1R 2R A 1R 2–10
US Open A A A A A A A A A A A A 0–0
Year-end ranking 405 262 490 355 246 508 365 961 648 N/A N/A N/A N/A

Mixed doubles

Tournament 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Career W–L
Australian Open A A A A A A A A A A 0–0
French Open A A A A A A A A A A 0–0
Wimbledon
 3R 1R A 1R A A 1R 2R 2R 2R 5–7
US Open A A A A A A A A A A 0–0

Fed Cup

Europe/Africa Group II
Date Venue Surface Round Opponents Final match score Match Opponent Rubber score
09–13 April 2002 Pretoria Hard RR  Malta 3–0 Doubles (with Julie Pullin) Dimech/Wetz 6–0, 6–1 (W)
 Norway 3–0 Singles Annette Aksdal 6–0, 6–1 (W)
PO
(Promotion) 		 Lithuania 2–0 Singles Lina Stančiūtė 4–6, 6–2, 6–2 (W)
Europe/Africa Group I
21–26 April 2003 Estoril Clay RR  Ireland 2–1 Doubles (with Julie Pullin) Curran/Liggan 6–3, 6–2 (W)
 Poland 2–1 Doubles (with Julie Pullin) Domachowska/Bieleń-Żarska 6–4, 7–6(7–5) (W)
 Hungary 0–3 Singles Petra Mandula 1–6, 3–6 (L)
PO
(Relegation) 		 Netherlands 1–2 Doubles (with Julie Pullin) Boogert/Oremans 3–6, 4–6 (L)
Europe/Africa Group II
26 Apr –
1 May 2004 		Marsa Hard RR  Egypt 3–0 Doubles (with Jane O'Donoghue) Farid/Mohsen 6–0, 6–3 (W)
 Turkey 3–0 Singles Cigdem Duru 6–1, 6–0 (W)
Doubles (with Jane O'Donoghue) Büyükakçay/Özgen 6–0, 6–3 (W)
 Romania 2–1 Singles Monica Niculescu 6–1, 6–4 (W)
PO
(Promotion) 		 Ireland 2–0 Singles Yvonne Doyle 6–1, 7–5 (W)
Europe/Africa Group I
20–23 April 2005 Antalya Clay RR  Slovenia 0–3 Singles Katarina Srebotnik 1–6, 1–6 (L)
Doubles (with Jane O'Donoghue) Klepač/Križan 1–6, 4–6 (L)
 Denmark 2–1 Singles
Karina Ildor Jacobsgaard
 6–3, 7–5 (W)
 
Serbia and Montenegro
 		1–2 Singles Ana Timotić 7–5, 3–6, 0–6 (L)
PO
(9th–12th) 		 Ukraine 1–2 Singles Alona Bondarenko 1–6, 3–6 (L)
18–22 April 2006 Plovdiv Clay RR  Ukraine 3–0 Singles Valeria Bondarenko 6–3, 6–0 (W)
Doubles (with Claire Curran) Antypina/V.Bondarenko 6–4, 6–4 (W)
 Bulgaria 2–1 Singles Dimana Krastevitch 6–3, 6–1 (W)
Doubles (with Claire Curran) Krastevitch/Pironkova 6–1, 1–6, 6–2 (W)
 Hungary 2–1 Singles
Kyra Nagy
 6–1, 6–2 (W)
Doubles (with Claire Curran)
Nagy/Németh
 6–1, 7–6(7–5) (W)
PO
(1st–4th) 		 Slovakia 1–2 Singles Magdaléna Rybáriková 5–7, 3–6 (L)
Doubles (with Claire Curran) Cibulková/Husárová 6–4, 6–3 (W)
18–21 April 2007 Plovdiv Clay RR  Bulgaria 3–0 Singles Dia Evtimova 4–6, 6–4, 8–6 (W)
Doubles (with Claire Curran) Alawi/Mladenova 6–4, 6–2 (W)
 Luxembourg 1–2 Doubles (with Claire Curran) Kremer/Philippe 6–4, 3–6, 6–3 (W)
 Poland 0–3 Singles Marta Domachowska 1–6, 4–6 (L)
Doubles (with Claire Curran) Domachowska/A.Radwańska 3–6, 4–6 (L)
PO
(9th–12th) 		 Sweden 0–3 Doubles (with Claire Curran)
Larsson
 0–6, 1–6 (L)
30 Jan –
1 Feb 2008 		Budapest Carpet (i) RR   Switzerland 1–2 Doubles (with Melanie South) Gagliardi/Schnyder 3–6, 3–6 (L)
 Hungary 1–2 Doubles (with Melanie South) Arn/Szávay 2–6, 2–6 (L)
 Denmark 1–2 Doubles (with Anne Keothavong) Dyrberg/Wozniacki 3–6, 2–6 (L)
04–07 Feb 2009 Tallinn Carpet (i) RR  Hungary 3–0 Singles Gréta Arn 7–5, 6–3 (W)
 Netherlands 3–0 Singles Michelle Gerards 6–2, 6–4 (W)
PO
(Promotion) 		 Poland 1–2 Singles Katarzyna Piter 6–4, 6–1 (W)
03–05 Feb 2010 Lisbon Hard (i) RR  Bosnia and Herzegovina 3–0 Singles Sandra Martinović 6–1, 6–1 (W)
Doubles (with Sarah Borwell)
Husarić/Martinović
 6–2, 6–4 (W)
 Austria 0–3 Singles Sybille Bammer 3–6, 3–6 (L)
 Belarus 2–1 Doubles (with Sarah Borwell) Govortsova/Poutchek 3–6, 7–5, 6–2 (W)
5 Feb 2011 Eilat Hard PO
(5th–8th) 		 Croatia 2–0 Singles Ajla Tomljanović 6–1, 6–1 (W)
01–04 Feb 2012 Eilat Hard RR  Portugal 3–0 Singles Michelle Larcher de Brito 6–2, 6–3 (W)
 Netherlands 2–1 Singles Michaëlla Krajicek 6–3, 6–3 (W)
 Israel 3–0 Singles Shahar Pe'er 6–4, 6–3 (W)
PO
(Promotional) 		 Austria 2–0 Singles Tamira Paszek 6–1, 6–4 (W)
World Group II (Play Offs)
21–22 April 2012 Borås Hard (i) PO
(Promotional) 		 Sweden 1–4 Singles
Johanna Larsson
 1–6, 5–7 (L)
Doubles (with Heather Watson) Allgurin/Melander 7–6(7–3), 6–1 (W)
20–21 April 2013 Buenos Aires Clay PO
(Promotional) 		 Argentina 1–3 Singles María Irigoyen 5–7, 6–3, 1–6 (L)

Head-to-head record

Record against top 10 players

Player Record Win % Hard Clay Grass Carpet Last match
Number 1 ranked players
Germany Angelique Kerber 1–0 100% 0–0 0–0 1–0 0–0 Won (6–3, 2–6, 7–5) at 2008 Wimbledon Championships
Russia Maria Sharapova 0–1 0% 0–1 0–0 0–0 0–0 Lost (2–6, 5–7) at 2010 Cellular South Cup
Romania Simona Halep 0–1 0% 0–1 0–0 0–0 0–0 Lost (4–6, 7–5, 2–6) at 2010 $100k+H Torhout, Belgium
Serbia and Montenegro/Serbia Ana Ivanovic 0–1 0% 0–0 0–0 0–1 0–0 Lost (4–6, 6–7(5–7)) at 2012 Summer Olympics
Russia Dinara Safina 0–1 0% 0–1 0–0 0–0 0–0 Lost (1–6, 2–6) at 2010 Australian Open
France Amélie Mauresmo 0–1 0% 0–1 0–0 0–0 0–0 Lost (6–4, 3–6, 2–6) at 2009 Australian Open
Belarus Victoria Azarenka 0–1 0% 0–0 0–0 0–1 0–0 Lost (1–6, 6–7(0–7)) at 2010 Eastbourne International
Belgium Kim Clijsters 0–1 0% 0–1 0–0 0–0 0–0 Lost (3–6, 4–6) at 2009 Canadian Open
Serbia and Montenegro/Serbia Jelena Janković 0–1 0% 0–1 0–0 0–0 0–0 Lost (5–7, 1–6) at 2002 $25k Lawrenceville, GA
United States Jennifer Capriati 0–1 0% 0–0 0–0 0–1 0–0 Lost (4–6, 4–6) at 2004 Wimbledon Championships
Belgium Justine Henin 0–1 0% 0–1 0–0 0–0 0–0 Lost (1–6, 3–6) at 2011 Australian Open
Number 2 ranked players
China Li Na 2–2 50% 1–1 0–0 1–1 0–0 Lost (3–6, 2–6) at 2010 Danish Open
Czech Republic Petra Kvitová 1–3 25% 1–1 0–1 0–1 0–0 Lost (0–6, 4–6) at 2012 Wimbledon Championships
Russia Svetlana Kuznetsova 0–1 0% 0–1 0–0 0–0 0–0 Lost (4–6, 3–6) at 2011 US Open
Spain Conchita Martínez 0–2 0% 0–0 0–0 0–2 0–0 Lost (5–7, 6–2, 1–6) at 2005 Eastbourne International
Poland Agnieszka Radwańska 0–3 0% 0–2 0–1 0–0 0–0 Lost (0–6, 6–7(4–7)) at 2011 Southern California Open
Number 3 ranked players
South Africa Amanda Coetzer 1–0 100% 0–0 0–0 1–0 0–0 Won (5–7, 6–4, 6–2) at 2002 Wimbledon Championships
United States Sloane Stephens 1–0 100% 0–0 1–0 0–0 0–0 Won (7–5, 6–2) at 2011 French Open
Number 4 ranked players
Italy Francesca Schiavone 1–0 100% 1–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 Won (6–4, 6–2) at 2010 İstanbul Cup
Australia Samantha Stosur 1–3 25% 0–0 0–1 1–2 0–0 Lost (4–6, 0–6) at 2012 French Open
Slovakia Dominika Cibulková 0–1 0% 0–1 0–0 0–0 0–0 Lost (6–4, 6–7(3–7), 0–1 ret.) at 2011 Linz Open
France Caroline Garcia 0–1 0% 0–1 0–0 0–0 0–0 Lost (5–7, 6–7(7–9)) at 2013 Connecticut Open
Jelena Dokić
 0–2 0% 0–1 0–0 0–1 0–0 Lost (4–6, 2–6) at 2010 Hobart International
Japan Kimiko Date 0–2 0% 0–1 0–0 0–1 0–0 Lost (6–7(3–7), 4–6) at 2011 $100k Poitiers, France
Number 5 ranked players
Russia Anna Chakvetadze 1–0 100% 1–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 Won (7–5, 7–6(7–3)) at 2010 Auckland Open
Czech Republic Lucie Šafářová 0–1 0% 0–1 0–0 0–0 0–0 Lost (3–6, 6–7(5–7)) at 2008 $100k Poitiers, France
Number 6 ranked players
Italy Flavia Pennetta 0–4 0% 0–2 0–0 0–2 0–0 Lost (4–6, 1–6) at 2013 Wimbledon Championships
Number 7 ranked players
Italy Roberta Vinci 1–1 50% 1–1 0–0 0–0 0–0 Won (2–6, 7–5, 6–2) at 2011 Indian Wells Open
Czech Republic Nicole Vaidišová 0–1 0% 0–0 0–0 0–1 0–0 Lost (3–6, 2–6) at 2007 Eastbourne International
Number 8 ranked players
Russia Ekaterina Makarova 2–1 67% 2–0 0–0 0–1 0–0 Lost (5–7, 6–7(1–7)) at 2008 Birmingham Classic
Australia Alicia Molik 0–1 0% 0–1 0–0 0–0 0–0 Lost (0–6, 2–6) at 2010 Indian Wells Open
Number 9 ranked players
Germany Julia Görges 1–3 25% 1–2 0–0 0–0 0–1 Lost (3–6, 2–6) at 2012 Indian Wells Open
Germany Andrea Petkovic 0–2 0% 0–1 0–1 0–0 0–0 Lost (4–6, 0–6) at 2010 İstanbul Cup
Number 10 ranked players
Russia Maria Kirilenko 0–3 0% 0–1 0–1 0–1 0–0 Lost (6–4, 4–6, 3–6) at 2013 Eastbourne International
Total 13–47 22% 8–25
(24%) 		1–5
(17%) 		4–16
(20%) 		0–1
(0%)

Top 10 wins

Season 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 Total
Wins 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 3
# Player Rank Event Surface Rd. Score
2010
1.
Li Na
 No. 10 Indian Wells Open Hard 2R 7–6(6), 2–6, 7–6(7)
2. China Li Na No. 10
Eastbourne International
 Grass 1R 6–7(6), ret.
3. Italy Francesca Schiavone No. 8 İstanbul Cup Hard 2R 6–4, 6–2

References

  1. ^ Jago, Richard (2 October 2002). "Mystery bug half Baltacha's march". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 June 2011.
  2. ^ "Numbers rise at Elena Baltacha Tennis Academy". EADT. 1 September 2012. Archived from the original on 14 September 2012. Retrieved 19 September 2012.
  3. ^ "Elena Baltacha breaks into women's top 50 rankings". BBC Sport. 14 September 2010. Retrieved 16 September 2010.
  4. ^ "Elena Baltacha, Former British Number One Tennis Star, Dies at 30 of Liver Cancer (VIDEO)". The Huffington Post UK. 5 May 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  5. ^ a b c "Elena Baltacha: Former British number one dies of liver cancer". BBC Sport. London. 4 May 2014. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
  6. ^ a b "Elena Baltacha: Beating ill health is Baltacha's first target". The Independent. 21 June 2003. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
  7. ^ "Redirecting to player". Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  8. ^ Gary Ralston (16 September 2009). "George Burley admits Scotland blunders – but vows he won't let Tartan Army down next time". dailyrecord. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  9. Herald Scotland
    . 10 December 2013. Retrieved 7 March 2014.
  10. ^ "LTA | Nino's Nuggets". www.lta.org.uk. Archived from the original on 6 July 2010.
  11. ^ Hodges, Vicki (20 May 2010). "British No 1 Elena Baltacha Q&A". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 20 May 2010.
  12. ^ Lee, Adrian (22 June 2010). "Elena Baltacha on her incurable liver disease". Express.co.uk. Retrieved 3 July 2011.
  13. ^ "Elena Baltacha: Former British number one dies of liver cancer". BBC Sport. 5 May 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  14. ^ "Tennis world pays tribute following tragic death of former British No1 Elena Baltacha". The Daily Telegraph. 5 May 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  15. ^ "News – WTA Tennis English". Women's Tennis Association. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  16. ^ a b "Tennis star Elena Baltacha's funeral held in Ipswich". BBC News. 19 May 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  17. ^ Tom Allnutt (19 May 2014). "Elena Baltacha funeral: Mourners asked to wear 'bright colours' as". The Independent. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  18. ^ "Elena Baltacha: Nottingham trophy named after late tennis player". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  19. ^ a b Elena Baltacha profile at itftennis.com/juniors
  20. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Activity: BALTACHA, Elena (GBR)". itftennis.com.
  21. ^ Harris, Nick (26 June 2002). "Baltacha saves day as home players fall". The Independent. Retrieved 1 May 2010.[dead link]
  22. ^ Harris, Nick (28 June 2002). "Baltacha pulls off hair-raising triumph". The Independent. Retrieved 1 May 2010.[dead link]
  23. ^ Atkin, Ronald (30 June 2002). "From Russia with regret for Baltacha". The Independent. Archived from the original on 21 February 2010. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
  24. ^ Whyte, Derrick (15 July 2002). "'Exhausted' Baltacha takes first title". The Independent. Archived from the original on 21 February 2010. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
  25. ^ Shaw, Phil (10 June 2003). "Wimbledon doubt for tearful Kournikova". The Independent. Retrieved 1 May 2010.[dead link]
  26. ^ Harris, Nick (25 June 2003). "Brave Baltacha takes fight to Dokic as British challenge crumbles". The Independent. Retrieved 1 May 2010.[dead link]
  27. ^ "Encouraging display fuels Baltacha on voyage back to form". The Independent. 15 June 2004. Retrieved 1 May 2010.[dead link]
  28. ^ Harris, Nick (23 June 2004). "Baltacha win breathes life into British game". The Independent. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
  29. ^ Edmondson, Richard (26 June 2004). "Capriati, the seasoned sage of the circuit, offers determined Baltacha encouragement". The Independent. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
  30. ^ Marks, Kathy (18 January 2005). "Baltacha's shock victory brings cheer for Britain". The Independent. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
  31. ^ Casey, Phil (19 January 2005). "True grit as Baltacha fights back in Melbourne". The Independent. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
  32. ^ Marks, Kathy (22 January 2005). "Baltacha bows out to build on big break". The Independent. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
  33. ^ Roberts, John (15 June 2005). "'Naff games' cost Baltacha £50,000". The Independent. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
  34. ^ Newman, Paul (20 February 2006). "Baltacha back in the groove to stand on the brink of Dubai Open". The Independent. Archived from the original on 26 October 2012. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
  35. ^ Newman, Paul (21 February 2006). "Baltacha battles in vain". The Independent. Retrieved 1 May 2010.[dead link]
  36. ^ "Injury to Djokovic eases path for Nadal". The Independent. 8 June 2006. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
  37. ^ Laybourn, Ian (13 June 2007). "Cavaday's shock victory lifts the gloom for Britain". The Independent. Retrieved 1 May 2010.[dead link]
  38. ^ Pierce, Bill (20 June 2007). "Baltacha survives British roller-coaster to earn rapid rise". The Independent. Retrieved 1 May 2010.[dead link]
  39. ^ McLoughlin, Brendan; Pierce, Bill (21 June 2007). "Henman rues lapses in loss to Tursunov". The Independent. Retrieved 1 May 2010.[dead link]
  40. ^ Rowbottom, Mike (27 June 2007). "O'Brien win hints at new dawn for British women". The Independent. Retrieved 1 May 2010.[dead link]
  41. ^ Newman, Paul (11 January 2008). "Four British players rise above heat to win qualifying matches". The Independent. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
  42. ^ Newman, Paul (12 January 2008). "Henman's conqueror Tsonga provides first obstacle for Murray". The Independent. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
  43. ^ Herbert, Ian (24 June 2008). "Baltacha draws on fighting spirit for emotional success". The Independent. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
  44. ^ Herbert, Ian (26 June 2008). "Baltacha bows out to face uncertain future once again". The Independent. Retrieved 1 May 2010.[dead link]
  45. ^ "Baltacha & O'Brien into Open draw". BBC Sport. 17 January 2009. Retrieved 3 January 2010.
  46. ^ "British pair Elena Baltacha and Katie O'Brien qualify for Australian Open". The Daily Telegraph. 17 January 2009. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
  47. ^ "Baltacha wins title in Korea". lta.org.uk. Archived from the original on 3 September 2012.
  48. ^ White, Jim (25 June 2009). "Wimbledon 2009: Elena Baltacha loses in straight sets to Kirsten Flipkens". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
  49. ^ Harman, Neil (27 September 2009). "Elena Baltacha helps lift British gloom". The Times. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
  50. ^ "Great Britain defeat Portugal in Fed Cup match". LTA. Archived from the original on 26 April 2012. Retrieved 3 February 2011.
  51. ^ "AEGON GB Fed Cup Team defeat Netherlands". LTA. Archived from the original on 5 February 2012. Retrieved 3 February 2011.
  52. ^ "GB Fed Cup team progress to World Group II Play-offs". LTA. Archived from the original on 8 February 2012. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
  53. ^ "Andy and Jamie Murray beaten in Olympic tennis doubles". BBC Sport. 28 July 2012. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  54. ^ "Elena Baltacha announces retirement from tennis". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 May 2016.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Elena Baltacha.
Preceded by British Tennis number one
23 September 2002 – 15 June 2003
17 January 2005 – 29 January 2006
30 November 2009 – 10 June 2012 		Succeeded by
Anne Keothavong
Anne Keothavong
Anne Keothavong
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Elena_Baltacha&oldid=1212433797"