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Elena Baltacha private funeral to take place in Ipswich Tennis star Elena Baltacha's funeral held in Ipswich
(about 5 hours later)
A private funeral is to be held later for Elena Baltacha, the former British tennis number one, who died of liver cancer aged 30. The funeral of Elena Baltacha, the former British tennis number one, has been held.
Baltacha was diagnosed with the illness in January, two months after retiring from tennis and weeks after marrying her coach Nino Severino. Baltacha, 30, died of liver cancer after she was diagnosed with the illness in January.
The funeral will be held at St Johns Church in Ipswich. Mourners at the service in Ipswich included former British number one players Tim Henman and Annabel Croft, and Laura Robson, who is currently top of the British women's rankings.
Her father Sergei played football for Ipswich and the family settled in the town where she ran her tennis academy. Baltacha was based in the town and had set up a tennis academy there.
Baltacha was raised in Perth, Scotland. About 300 mourners attended the service at St John the Baptist Church.
The family have asked that instead of flowers, donations be made to the Rally For Bally fund. Baltacha's diagnosis came two months after she retired from tennis and weeks after she married her coach Nino Severino.
She was born in Kiev, Ukraine and raised in Perth, Scotland.
Her father Sergei, a former Soviet international footballer who played for Ipswich Town, St Johnstone and Inverness Caledonian Thistle, arrived at the church with her mother Olga.
Judy Murray, who coached Baltacha as a junior, arrived at the funeral with Mr Severino.
The family asked that instead of flowers, donations be made to the Rally For Bally fundraising event on 15 June.
The money will be split equally between the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity and the Elena Baltacha Academy of Tennis, which she set up to help disadvantaged children take up the sport.The money will be split equally between the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity and the Elena Baltacha Academy of Tennis, which she set up to help disadvantaged children take up the sport.
Baltacha's highest singles world ranking was 49, which she reached in September 2010.Baltacha's highest singles world ranking was 49, which she reached in September 2010.
She was diagnosed with a liver condition at the age of 19 and managed the disease throughout her career with medication and blood tests.She was diagnosed with a liver condition at the age of 19 and managed the disease throughout her career with medication and blood tests.
Judy Murray, who coached Baltacha as a junior and travelled to Ipswich for the funeral, said: "She was one of the most selfless, undemanding, appreciative kids I ever came across. Ms Murray said: "She was one of the most selfless, undemanding, appreciative kids I ever came across.
"We want to do whatever we can to make sure she is remembered, to make sure she has a legacy and this academy, that was so dear to her heart, survives and thrives as long as we're around to do that.""We want to do whatever we can to make sure she is remembered, to make sure she has a legacy and this academy, that was so dear to her heart, survives and thrives as long as we're around to do that."
Jo Durie, the former British number one women's tennis player, told BBC Radio Suffolk she would be among those at the funeral. Jo Durie, the former British number one women's tennis player, was also at the funeral.
Paying tribute to "Bally", she said: "Throughout the tennis world it's really made everyone think. At the age of 30... it's just so sad. She said: "Throughout the tennis world it's really made everyone think. At the age of 30... it's just so sad.
"She was so down to earth, always bouncing around, enthusiastic.""She was so down to earth, always bouncing around, enthusiastic."