The former British number one tennis star Elena Baltacha died on Sunday from liver cancer at the age of just 30.
Baltacha, who was born in Ukraine and emigrated to Britain at the age of five with her professional footballer father (Ipswich Town, St Johnstone and Inverness Caledonian Thistle), her athlete mother, who represented the USSR in the Olympics, and her brother, who was also a professional footballer, was diagnosed with liver cancer only in January just a few weeks after she married tennis coach Nino Severino.
However, she was diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis,a chronic liver condition which compromises the immune system, when she was 19.
More than 50 players, including British number one and Wimbledon champion Andy Murray, held a minute's silence on the centre court at the Madrid Masters on Monday.
Murray told BBC Sport it was "tough" to understand such a "tragic" loss, and to comprehend how quickly the illness had advanced.
Elena Baltacha: Former British number one dies of liver cancer
5 May 2014
BBC Sport
Former British number one tennis player Elena Baltacha has died of liver cancer, aged 30.
Born in Ukraine and raised in Scotland, Baltacha revealed she had the illness in March.
Baltacha, who was British number one for nearly three years, retired in November 2013.
"We are heartbroken beyond words at the loss of our beautiful, talented and determined Bally," said husband Nino Severino, who was also her coach.
"She was an amazing person and she touched so many people with her inspirational spirit, her warmth and her kindness."
Baltacha learned she had liver cancer in mid-January 2014, two months after retiring from professional tennis and only a few weeks after marrying.
More than 50 players, including British number one Andy Murray, held a minute's silence on the centre court at the Madrid Masters on Monday.
Murray told BBC Sport it was "tough" to understand such a "tragic" loss, and to comprehend how quickly the illness had advanced.
Solemn: Wimbledon champion Andy Murray and brother Jamie Murray attend a minute's silence for Elena Baltacha
Tribute: A big screen at the Madrid Open shows a picture of Elena Baltacha during a minute's silence
Baltacha, who died in the early hours of Sunday, was diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis, a chronic liver condition which compromises the immune system, when she was 19.
Despite her illness, which she had to control with medication and regular blood tests, and suffering from multiple injury problems, Baltacha went on to reach the Australian Open third round in 2005 and 2010 and reached a career-high world ranking of 49.
She won 11 singles titles, made the third round of Wimbledon in 2002 and was part of Great Britain's Fed Cup team for 12 years, under the captaincy of Judy Murray.
Among a host of tennis stars paying tribute, current women's British number one Laura Robson took to Twitter to say: "Impossibly sad. Forever a team-mate. Sweet dreams Bally."
World number one Serena Williams tweeted: "My deepest prayers, thoughts, concern and love goes out to Elena Baltacha's family. I am deeply sorry for your loss. Revelation 21:4."
Eighteen-time Grand Slam singles champion Martina Navratilova, who was treated for breast cancer in 2010, said Baltacha had been "taken from the world much too soon - fighting to the end and we will miss her".
"We as tennis players always worry about our bodies, trying to keep injuries at bay.
"But cancer - you can't prevent that and you can't rehab it either - and no matter how much of a fighter you are, sometimes cancer wins."
Billie Jean King, six times a Wimbledon singles champion, tweeted: "Saddened to hear about Elena Baltacha's passing. My fondest memory with Bally was sharing a wonderful chat when we met the Queen at Wimbledon."
Baltacha's former coach, ex-British number one Jo Durie, said it had been "very draining and tiring" for Baltacha "because she was battling her liver condition as well as pushing her body to the limits as an athlete".
"I have this image of 'Battling Bally' giving her all on court in every match.
"She didn't want to talk about her illness, but rather talk about her tennis and how that was going. She was such a fighter."
Iain Bates, the Lawn Tennis Association's head of women's tennis, said: "We have lost a shining light from the heart of British tennis - a true role model, a great competitor and a wonderful friend."
Stacey Allaster, chairman and chief executive of the World Tennis Association, added: "Elena's journey was never an easy one and yet she consistently showed her strength, good humour and indomitable spirit."
BBC Sport - Elena Baltacha: Former British number one dies of liver cancer
Baltacha, who was born in Ukraine and emigrated to Britain at the age of five with her professional footballer father (Ipswich Town, St Johnstone and Inverness Caledonian Thistle), her athlete mother, who represented the USSR in the Olympics, and her brother, who was also a professional footballer, was diagnosed with liver cancer only in January just a few weeks after she married tennis coach Nino Severino.
However, she was diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis,a chronic liver condition which compromises the immune system, when she was 19.
More than 50 players, including British number one and Wimbledon champion Andy Murray, held a minute's silence on the centre court at the Madrid Masters on Monday.
Murray told BBC Sport it was "tough" to understand such a "tragic" loss, and to comprehend how quickly the illness had advanced.
Elena Baltacha: Former British number one dies of liver cancer
5 May 2014
BBC Sport
Former British number one tennis player Elena Baltacha has died of liver cancer, aged 30.
Born in Ukraine and raised in Scotland, Baltacha revealed she had the illness in March.
Baltacha, who was British number one for nearly three years, retired in November 2013.
"We are heartbroken beyond words at the loss of our beautiful, talented and determined Bally," said husband Nino Severino, who was also her coach.
"She was an amazing person and she touched so many people with her inspirational spirit, her warmth and her kindness."
Baltacha learned she had liver cancer in mid-January 2014, two months after retiring from professional tennis and only a few weeks after marrying.
More than 50 players, including British number one Andy Murray, held a minute's silence on the centre court at the Madrid Masters on Monday.
Murray told BBC Sport it was "tough" to understand such a "tragic" loss, and to comprehend how quickly the illness had advanced.
Solemn: Wimbledon champion Andy Murray and brother Jamie Murray attend a minute's silence for Elena Baltacha
Baltacha, who died in the early hours of Sunday, was diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis, a chronic liver condition which compromises the immune system, when she was 19.
Despite her illness, which she had to control with medication and regular blood tests, and suffering from multiple injury problems, Baltacha went on to reach the Australian Open third round in 2005 and 2010 and reached a career-high world ranking of 49.
She won 11 singles titles, made the third round of Wimbledon in 2002 and was part of Great Britain's Fed Cup team for 12 years, under the captaincy of Judy Murray.
Among a host of tennis stars paying tribute, current women's British number one Laura Robson took to Twitter to say: "Impossibly sad. Forever a team-mate. Sweet dreams Bally."
World number one Serena Williams tweeted: "My deepest prayers, thoughts, concern and love goes out to Elena Baltacha's family. I am deeply sorry for your loss. Revelation 21:4."
Eighteen-time Grand Slam singles champion Martina Navratilova, who was treated for breast cancer in 2010, said Baltacha had been "taken from the world much too soon - fighting to the end and we will miss her".
"We as tennis players always worry about our bodies, trying to keep injuries at bay.
"But cancer - you can't prevent that and you can't rehab it either - and no matter how much of a fighter you are, sometimes cancer wins."
Billie Jean King, six times a Wimbledon singles champion, tweeted: "Saddened to hear about Elena Baltacha's passing. My fondest memory with Bally was sharing a wonderful chat when we met the Queen at Wimbledon."
Baltacha's former coach, ex-British number one Jo Durie, said it had been "very draining and tiring" for Baltacha "because she was battling her liver condition as well as pushing her body to the limits as an athlete".
"I have this image of 'Battling Bally' giving her all on court in every match.
"She didn't want to talk about her illness, but rather talk about her tennis and how that was going. She was such a fighter."
Iain Bates, the Lawn Tennis Association's head of women's tennis, said: "We have lost a shining light from the heart of British tennis - a true role model, a great competitor and a wonderful friend."
Stacey Allaster, chairman and chief executive of the World Tennis Association, added: "Elena's journey was never an easy one and yet she consistently showed her strength, good humour and indomitable spirit."
BBC Sport - Elena Baltacha: Former British number one dies of liver cancer
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