The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) has announced they will commemorate the passing of shining British tennis star with The Elena Baltacha Trophy at 2015’s Aegon Open Nottingham.
Elena Baltacha, known to her loved ones as Bally, tragically lost her battle with liver cancer on May 4 2014, less than a year after winning her 11th ITF Women’s Circuit title at Nottingham.
The winner of the women’s competition at the upcoming Nottingham event will be awarded the newly commissioned trophy.
The Aegon Open Nottingham, at Nottingham Tennis Centre, will stage the women’s WTA event from 6 to 14 June and the men’s ATP competition between 20 and 27 June.
Elena’s husband, Nino Severino said: “The loss of our darling Bally is a heartbreak that will never go away. It’s very touching that the British Tennis family is remembering her this way.
“We’re all working together to keep her legacy alive through the Elena Baltacha Academy of Tennis and getting more kids of all backgrounds playing tennis.”
Image: Elena ‘Bally’ Baltacha will be remembered in Nottingham
The player became the first British woman in 25 years to rank in the world’s top 50 in September 2010.
Inspiration
LTA President Cathie Sabin will always remember Bally as an inspiration to all.
She said: “Visitors to the Nottingham events will remember her for her friendly manner and will I am sure appreciate that this trophy will help us to remember a truly lovely lady.”
The forthcoming tournament will be an integral part of the new, extended British grass court season, which will give some of the world’s elite players more time to become accustomed to the demands of a grass surface.
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