06/05/2014

Elena Baltacha Dies Of Liver Cancer

British tennis player Elena Baltacha, 30, has died of liver cancer.

The former British number one began battling against the illness in January, just two months after retiring from the tennis courts and only a few weeks after she married her coach Nino Severino.

Mr Severino said in a statement: "We are heartbroken beyond words at the loss of our beautiful, talented and determined Bally, she was an amazing person and she touched so many people with her inspirational spirit, her warmth and her kindness."

The Kiev-born tennis player was the British number one during 132 weeks, from December 2009 to June 2012, won 11 International Tennis Federation titles and she was part of the Team GB at the London 2012 Olympics.

Baltacha was diagnosed at the age of 19 with primary sclerosing cholangitis, a chronic liver condition which compromises the immune system.

(CVS)

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