Elena Baltacha Facts for Kids

In this article, the patronymic is Sergeevna and the family name is Baltacha.

Quick facts for kids
Elena Baltacha
Singles
Baltacha at the 2010 US Open
Country (sports)	United Kingdom
Born	(1983-08-14)14 August 1983 Kyiv, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union (now Ukraine)
Died	4 May 2014(2014-05-04) (aged 30) Ipswich, Suffolk, England
Height	1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Turned pro	1997
Retired	2013
Plays	Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Prize money	$1,190,893
Career record	324–243 (57.14%)
Career titles	11 ITF
Highest ranking	No. 49 (13 September 2010)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian Open	3R (2005, 2010)
French Open	2R (2011)
Wimbledon	3R (2002)
US Open	2R (2010, 2011)
Doubles
Career record	59–59 (50%)
Career titles	4 ITF
Highest ranking	No. 211 (17 January 2011)
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian Open	2R (2010)
Wimbledon	2R (2005, 2010)
Grand Slam mixed doubles results
Wimbledon	3R (2002)
Team competitions
Fed Cup	33–16

Elena Baltacha
Medal record
Tennis
Representing Scotland
Commonwealth Youth Games
Silver	2000 Edinburgh	Women's Team

Elena Sergeevna Baltacha (born August 14, 1983 – died May 4, 2014) was a professional tennis player. She was born in Ukraine but became a British citizen. Elena was known for being the top British player for a long time, from 2002 to 2012. She won 11 singles titles and 4 doubles titles in the ITF Circuit. Her highest world ranking was No. 49 in September 2010. Elena sadly passed away at age 30 after being diagnosed with liver cancer.

About Elena's Life
Elena's Tennis Journey
Images for kids
See also

About Elena's Life

Elena Baltacha was born in Kyiv, Ukraine. Her family moved to the United Kingdom because her father, Sergei, was a professional footballer. He played for the Soviet Union and later for teams in the UK. Elena's mother, Olga, was also a sportswoman. Her brother, Sergei, played football too.

The family arrived in the UK in 1989 and settled in Ipswich. Elena spent some of her teenage years growing up in Perth, Scotland and Paisley.

In December 2013, after she retired from tennis, Elena married her coach, Niño Severino. Together, they started the Elena Baltacha Academy of Tennis in 2010. This academy helps children who might not otherwise have the chance to play tennis. Niño still runs the academy today.

Elena was diagnosed with a liver condition when she was 19 years old. In 2010, she became a supporter of the Children's Liver Disease Foundation. Sadly, in January 2014, she was diagnosed with liver cancer and passed away a few months later. Many famous tennis players, like Martina Navratilova and Serena Williams, shared their sadness and respect for Elena. Her funeral was attended by many tennis stars. People were asked to wear bright colors and donate to "Rally for Bally" instead of sending flowers. The money went to cancer research and her tennis academy. In 2015, a trophy at the Nottingham Open was named the "Elena Baltacha trophy" to honor her memory.

Elena's Tennis Journey

Starting Out (1997–2001)

Elena started playing junior tennis matches in 1997. She didn't win any junior titles but reached the finals of two tournaments. She also made it to the semifinals of the Wimbledon junior championships in 2001. During her junior career, she beat some players who later became famous, like Svetlana Kuznetsova. Elena also won a silver medal for Scotland at the 2000 Commonwealth Youth Games in a team event.

Becoming a Professional (1997–2002)

Elena began playing in professional tournaments in 1997. She slowly worked her way up, making her first main draw appearance at Wimbledon in 2001. In 2002, she had a great year. She reached the third round of Wimbledon, which was a big achievement. She then won her first two professional singles titles in Felixstowe and Pamplona. By the end of 2002, her ranking had improved a lot.

Dealing with Challenges (2003–2008)

The years 2003 and 2006 were tough for Elena due to injuries and health issues. She had to take time off for surgery. Despite these challenges, she kept fighting to improve her game. She continued to play for Great Britain in the Fed Cup, winning many matches for her country. In 2008, she won two more ITF titles in Jersey and Torhout, showing her determination.

Breaking Through (2009–2011)

2009 was a strong year for Elena. She qualified for the Australian Open and reached the second round, where she played against former world No. 1, Amélie Mauresmo. She also won another ITF title in Changwon. Later that year, she won a $75,000 tournament in Shrewsbury, which helped her break into the top 100 world rankings for the first time. This also made her the top British player again.

In 2010, Elena had some of her biggest career wins. She beat Li Na, who was ranked in the top 10, at the Indian Wells Open. This was her first win against a top 10 player. She also defeated Francesca Schiavone, who was the French Open champion at the time. Elena won two more titles that year, including a big $100,000 tournament in Midland, Michigan. She reached the third round of the Australian Open and the quarterfinals of the Eastbourne International.

Elena continued her strong performance in 2011. She reached the second round of the Australian Open and the French Open. She won the Nottingham Challenge for the second time, without losing a single set.

Final Years and Retirement (2012–2013)

In 2012, Elena played in the London Olympics for the first time. She won her first match but lost in the second round. She also reached the second round of Wimbledon. After the Olympics, she had foot surgery, which kept her off the court for a while.

Elena returned to play in 2013. She won her third title at the Nottingham Challenge, showing her fighting spirit. In November 2013, Elena decided to retire from professional tennis. She had a wonderful career, always giving her best on the court.