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| Elena Baltacha private funeral to take place in Ipswich | Elena Baltacha private funeral to take place in Ipswich |
| (about 2 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. | A private funeral is to be held later for Elena Baltacha, the former British tennis number one, who died of liver cancer aged 30. |
| Baltacha was diagnosed with the illness in January, two months after retiring from tennis and weeks after marrying her coach Nino Severino. | |
| The funeral will be held at St Johns Church in Ipswich. | The funeral will be held at St Johns Church in Ipswich. |
| Her father Sergei played football for Ipswich and the family settled in the town where she ran her tennis academy. | Her father Sergei played football for Ipswich and the family settled in the town where she ran her tennis academy. |
| Baltacha was raised in Perth, Scotland. | |
| The family have asked that instead of flowers, donations be made to the Rally For Bally fund. | The family have asked that instead of flowers, donations be made to the Rally For Bally fund. |
| 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. | |
| 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. | |
| "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, told BBC Radio Suffolk she would be among those 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. | 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 was so down to earth, always bouncing around, enthusiastic." | "She was so down to earth, always bouncing around, enthusiastic." |