Elena Baltacha Honored In Ceremonial Coin Toss
Former British number one tennis player Elena Baltacha, who died this past May of liver cancer, was honored in a ceremonial coin toss on Centre Court at Wimbledon.
Baltacha’s life and career was celebrated by retired women’s singles champion Marion Bartoli on Tuesday. According to Fox News, Bartoli paid tribute to Elena by taking part in the coin toss before the women’s singles match between Sabine Lisicki and Julia Glushko. Bartoli did not return to defend her title this year after beating Lisicki in last year’s final.
As part of the ceremony honoring Elena Baltacha, Bartoli wore her Wimbledon members’ tag. With Bartoli was nine-year-old Elle Robus Miller, a tennis player from the Elena Baltacha Academy of Tennis; a foundation started by Elena in 2010 to help underprivileged children. Bartoli was seen wiping tears off her face during the coin toss.
British number two tennis player Laura Robson created white wrist bands to be passed out at Wimbledon in tribute to Baltacha, with help from the All England Club. The wrist bands fall within Wimbledon’s dress code, to ensure that Elena could be remembered without breaking the rules.
After Baltacha’s ceremonial coin toss, Lisicki beat Glushko in the singles match in straight sets.
Elena Baltacha was the number one British tennis player for nearly three years, according to BBC Sport. Elena retired in 2013. Many of her colleagues and fellow tennis players had nothing but good things to say about Baltacha.
“While she was still playing tennis, when most players want to go home to rest, Elena set up this academy to help kids to play tennis,” said, Martina Navratilova nine time Wimbledon champion.
In reference to the Elena Baltacha Academy of Tennis, GB Fed Cup captain Judy Murray said, “It’s not just in this country but all around the men’s and women’s circuit, people have been raising money to try and keep the academy going for many years to come.”
Elena Baltacha was diagnosed with her liver condition, primary sclerosing cholangitis, at the age of 19, according to the Evening Times. The condition was kept under control throughout Elena’s entire career with medicine and regular blood testing. While battling cancer, Baltacha won 11 singles titles. Despite the illness and various injuries throughout her career, it was ankle problems that forced Elena to retire.
The Rally for Bally cause will be raising money for the Elena Baltacha Academy of Tennis. Yellow wristbands are being sold at Wimbledon to support Elena’s cause.
