• British No1 observes minute's silence at Madrid Open
• Anne Keothavong leads tributes to her friend
Andy Murray was among a number of players to stand on court and pay tribute to the former British No1 Elena Baltacha with a minute's silence at the Mutua Madrid Open on Monday.
Baltacha died of liver cancer early on Sunday morning aged 30. Several high-profile players, including Murray and his brother Jamie, observed the tribute on Centre Court at the Manolo Santana Stadium before the start of the tournament's night session.
Baltacha was diagnosed with the illness in January, two months after retiring from tennis and only weeks after she married her long-time coach, Nino Severino.
"We are heartbroken beyond words at the loss of our beautiful, talented and determined Bally," Severino said in a statement released by her family.
"She was an amazing person and she touched so many people with her inspirational spirit, her warmth and her kindness."
The statement said Baltacha died peacefully at home. Baltacha had retired from professional tennis after a career which had seen her ranked as the British No1 for 132 weeks, from December 2009 to June 2012.
Her highest singles ranking was 49, which she reached in September 2010.
Anne Keothavong, who retired last year and reached number 48 in the world, played doubles with Baltacha in a number of tournaments including Wimbledon and the London 2012 Olympics.
Keothavong wrote on Twitter: "Words cannot express how much I'll miss Bally. I feel so lucky to have shared so much with her and to have had her as my friend."
The previously announced 'Rally for Bally' – a fundraising series due to be played in June – will now go ahead in her memory. Murray is among those who had committed to play in the event, along with Martina Navratilova and Tim Henman. The money raised will go to the Elena Baltacha Academy of Tennis and the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.
• Anne Keothavong leads tributes to her friend
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| Andy and Jamie Murray were joined by Caroline Wozniacki to observe a minute's silence in honour of Elena Baltacha in Madrid on Monday. Photograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images |
Andy Murray was among a number of players to stand on court and pay tribute to the former British No1 Elena Baltacha with a minute's silence at the Mutua Madrid Open on Monday.
Baltacha died of liver cancer early on Sunday morning aged 30. Several high-profile players, including Murray and his brother Jamie, observed the tribute on Centre Court at the Manolo Santana Stadium before the start of the tournament's night session.
Baltacha was diagnosed with the illness in January, two months after retiring from tennis and only weeks after she married her long-time coach, Nino Severino.
"We are heartbroken beyond words at the loss of our beautiful, talented and determined Bally," Severino said in a statement released by her family.
"She was an amazing person and she touched so many people with her inspirational spirit, her warmth and her kindness."
The statement said Baltacha died peacefully at home. Baltacha had retired from professional tennis after a career which had seen her ranked as the British No1 for 132 weeks, from December 2009 to June 2012.
Her highest singles ranking was 49, which she reached in September 2010.
Anne Keothavong, who retired last year and reached number 48 in the world, played doubles with Baltacha in a number of tournaments including Wimbledon and the London 2012 Olympics.
Keothavong wrote on Twitter: "Words cannot express how much I'll miss Bally. I feel so lucky to have shared so much with her and to have had her as my friend."
The previously announced 'Rally for Bally' – a fundraising series due to be played in June – will now go ahead in her memory. Murray is among those who had committed to play in the event, along with Martina Navratilova and Tim Henman. The money raised will go to the Elena Baltacha Academy of Tennis and the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.
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