Dr. Baltacha

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

RE: Dr. Baltacha

indiana · Tennis legend

...and she could clearly be very much higher.

Such a pity her comeback was curtailed this year, because she was looking pretty good.

Jan · Hall of fame

Bally has announced her retirement:

www.lta.org.uk/News/2013/November/2013-11-18/Elena-Baltacha-Announces-Retirement-from-Tennis/

Good luck for the future, Bally, and thanks for all the great times watching you play!

indiana · Tennis legend

Ah, real pity, because it is pretty clear that she didn't really want to stop so soon. But her illness / injury situation has finally "taken it's toll" so to that extent it became the "right time".

I do wish that she had been able to have a further enjoyable couple of years or so and retired on her terms.

All the best to her in the future, I suspect she will give a lot back and be a great role model.

Spectator · All-time great

Likewise sorry that she couldn't retire on her own terms. But if there's one person who's clearly going to continue making a difference in the tennis world, she'd be my candidate! Love what she's doing with her academy - it seems to be just what everyone says should be done ... and she and Mr Severino have the knowledge and dedication and positivity and connections to make it work. Think in the end she may be remembered as much for what she does off the court as for what she has done on it ... which is saying something.

tony_orient · ATP qualifying

As has already been said Bally will be well remembered for her fighting spirit and commitment to the cause, both for herself and for Britain in the Fed Cup. What is most impressive about her career is that she managed to fulfil her potential despite the massive injury and health problems she had to overcome - at 25 she had yet to break the top 100, yet from 2009 to 2011 she managed 3 years playing on the full tour gaining some big wins and a top 50 ranking.

along with Anne, she raised the bar for British Women's tennis which has led the way for the current young generation to follow. It is great that she already has a post playing career she is passionate about too through EBAT.

-- Edited by tony_orient on Monday 18th of November 2013 10:16:15 PM

PaulM · Tennis legend

I will miss her so much :(

scottie1 · Futures level

The one British player in recent years that had true grit. Seen her play several times loved watching her as you never knew what to expect. When on fire she was unstoppable. Will miss you Elena but good decision as the injuries/illnesses have taken their toll. However she will be back as a coach I am sure.

PockyTastic · Futures level

Spectator wrote:
Likewise sorry that she couldn't retire on her own terms. But if there's one person who's clearly going to continue making a difference in the tennis world, she'd be my candidate! Love what she's doing with her academy - it seems to be just what everyone says should be done ... and she and Mr Severino have the knowledge and dedication and positivity and connections to make it work. Think in the end she may be remembered as much for what she does off the court as for what she has done on it ... which is saying something.

Spot on. Its sad that the decision has been forced on her really, but she's a positive and hard working and passionate woman so I wont be surprised to hear that she's go on to make a difference in what she does next - be that her academy, coaching, something else within tennis or something outside of it.

philwrig · Hall of fame

It's been a bit strange wondering what was happening with Bally's second career after her sort of retiring post the Olympics. Since Wimby it had been very quiet eventhough her form was actually very good and suggested a move back into the 100's. We just have to assume that the body couldn't cope with the comeback, but I suspect maybe the gruelling travel and other issues were other reasons.

Anyway what a wonderful career, where she reached her potential, which is all you can ask for as a professional sportswomen. A fighter, a single minded approach to her tennis, loved the battle, especially those close 3 setters, she battled through horrendous illness and injuries, just can't say enough.

I never was really able to communicate as well as I would have liked with her, although it did improve as time went on, she really kept herself to herself and her inner circle, but she was very appreciative of the support.

Anyway our Fed Cup team is beginning to look a bit bare if we get any injuries now, with both Bally and Anne retiring.

wolf · Tennis legend

Must say my eyes welled up a bit when I read this news at lunchtime.

Bally is probably my absolute favorite British player ever. What can I say on the court she always showed tenacity, courage, perseverance and made it very easy to get behind her and be a fan.

I was there the day she cracked the top 100 and to witness her sink to her knees and see what it meant to her was a memory I will never forget. One of many great Bally moments including her third set tie-break win over Li Na in Indian Wells, that drop shot out of nowhere to win the first set against Mauresmo at the Australian Open after a 20 shot rally, her Fed Cup heroics including that win over Paszek to send us out of Euro/Africa Zone after years of trying where she was inspired and played the match of her life.

Such a shame there is no tennis in the Commonwealth Games next year, that would have been the perfect way to finish for her.

Goodbye warrior of the court.

TomTraubert · Futures level

love bally
excellent career

have huge respect for her shes a great example
EBAT is an amazing project

very best wishes for evermore

thank you elena!

insomniacfolder · Challenger level

It's been a privilege Elena.
I have loved following your career, and am very proud that you were 'one of ours'; but I'd have supported someone like you no matter your country.

Thank you so much for all the ups and downs and that never-ending fight; that drive to excel and exceed yourself in every match.

I concur, EBAT is a wonderful set up and that you are so dedicated to it just makes you even more impressive to me - having already given so much back.

May the future bring you whatever you would wish of it.

Sincerely,
InsomniacFolder

murray_2k9 · Challenger qualifying

Sad to see her leaving tennis behind but the writing was on the wall. At least she had one last outing to make sure she could close the book with no regrets.

I doubt we will see a more passionate British tennis player than Bally and I'm happy she will be keeping her love of tennis alive through the EBAT - if anyone needed proof that fight and grit can get you up there among the world's elite then they need look no further than Bally.

I too feel privelliged to have fallen in love with tennis during the time when Elena and Anne begun making some noise on the world stage and giving us something to cheer for in the majors. Hope she still stays involved in Fed Cup somehow- it wont be the same without her!

steven · Tennis legend

I thought Monday was going to be the quietest tennis day of the year so far .... then got online late at night after a relentless day to find this news. A huge surprise? Maybe not, but still very sad, I'd like to have seen her do a couple more years on tour and clearly she wanted to but her body is saying no.

She has been brilliant for British tennis with every sign that her positive influence will continue through her academy.

I got http://bit.ly/1fatt3R ready a few months ago, soon after doing something similar for Anne (she said she found out things even she didn't know about her career, which was nice!) - I had a quick skim through tonight, made the odd correction and was going to tweet a link to it in the morning (or whenever I manage to wake up - it really has been a very long working day!) but if any Bally fans could have a quick look in the morning and let me know if there are any obvious howlers (which may include bits about Anne I left in by mistake, since I started off with the one about her to give me a basic structure and then adapted it) or anything crucial I have missed, I would be very grateful!