Elena Baltacha announces retirement from tennis
Former British number one Elena Baltacha has announced her retirement from tennis with immediate effect.The 30-year-old, who won 11 singles titles, reached the third round of Wimbledon in 2002 and the same stage of the Australian Open, in 2005 and 2010.The Scot reached a career-high ranking of 49 in 2010, but struggled with injury and illness during her career."My body has taken such a bruising over the last 16 years and that's finally taken its toll," she said.
"I have had some amazing experiences through playing tennis - some incredible highs and some very low lows - and I wouldn't change any of them but now my mind and my body are telling me it's time to move on to a new phase of my life." Baltacha was diagnosed at the age of 19 with primary sclerosing cholangitis, a chronic liver condition which compromises the immune system.
But she went on to enjoy a successful career, representing Great Britain for 12 consecutive years in the Fed Cup and competing at the London 2012 Olympics.
She returned from a nine-month injury layoff to win the ITF Nottingham Challenge in June, but was knocked out in the first round of Wimbledon and failed to qualify for the US Open in August.
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