→2010: reference |
rm of twaddle from intro |
||
Line 9: | Line 9: | ||
| height = {{convert|1.75|m|abbr=on}} |
| height = {{convert|1.75|m|abbr=on}} |
||
| turnedpro = [[1997 WTA Tour|1997]] |
| turnedpro = [[1997 WTA Tour|1997]] |
||
| retired = |
| retired = |
||
| plays = Right-handed (double-handed backhand) |
| plays = Right-handed (double-handed backhand) |
||
| careerprizemoney = [[United States dollar|$]]681,186 |
| careerprizemoney = [[United States dollar|$]]681,186 |
||
Line 38: | Line 38: | ||
}} |
}} |
||
'''Elena Baltacha''' ({{lang-uk|'''Олена Балтача'''}}) is a double [[AEGON Awards|AEGON Award Winning]], [[British people|British]]<ref name="Henderson">{{cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2003/jan/12/tennis.features|title=Now get out of that: Profile of British tennis player Elena Baltacha |last=Henderson|first=Jon|date=12 January 2003|work=Observer Sport Monthly|accessdate=2009-06-26 | location=London}}</ref> [[tennis]] player of [[Ukrainian diaspora in the United Kingdom|Ukrainian]] parentage who has |
'''Elena Baltacha''' ({{lang-uk|'''Олена Балтача'''}}) is a double [[AEGON Awards|AEGON Award Winning]], [[British people|British]]<ref name="Henderson">{{cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2003/jan/12/tennis.features|title=Now get out of that: Profile of British tennis player Elena Baltacha |last=Henderson|first=Jon|date=12 January 2003|work=Observer Sport Monthly|accessdate=2009-06-26 | location=London}}</ref> [[tennis]] player of [[Ukrainian diaspora in the United Kingdom|Ukrainian]] parentage who has plays for Great Britain<ref>[http://www2.lta.org.uk/Search/PlayerSearch/PlayerDetails.htm?Id=1-2SM-114200&BSMGuid=5a97f70d-6005-4785-96d9-9d85fca6dd52 LTA profile]</ref> and formerly [[Scotland]] in the now defunct [[Aberdeen Cup]]. She is the current British number 1, with a current ranking of World No.59. Her career high ranking of World No. 52 was achieved on 21 June 2010. |
||
Over the course of her career she has won nine [[International Tennis Federation|ITF]] singles titles (five $25,000, one $50,000, two $75,000 and one $100,000) and four ITF doubles titles (all $25,000). She has also twice been a runner-up in ITF events in singles and four times in doubles. |
Over the course of her career she has won nine [[International Tennis Federation|ITF]] singles titles (five $25,000, one $50,000, two $75,000 and one $100,000) and four ITF doubles titles (all $25,000). She has also twice been a runner-up in ITF events in singles and four times in doubles. |
||
In terms of wins, she has had the greatest success in [[Grand Slam (tennis)|Grand Slams]] of all the currently active female British tennis players. She reached the third round of the [[Australian Open]] in [[2005 Australian Open - Women's Singles|2005]] (as a qualifier) and in [[2010 Australian Open - Women's Singles|2010]] as well as the second round in [[2009 Australian Open - Women's Singles|2009]] (again as a qualifier). She also reached the third round of [[The Championships, Wimbledon|Wimbledon]] in [[2002 Wimbledon Championships - Women's Singles|2002]] and the second round three times in [[2004 Wimbledon Championships - Women's Singles|2004]], [[2008 Wimbledon Championships - Women's Singles|2008]] and [[2009 Wimbledon Championships - Women's Singles|2009]]. This means that overall, she has won ten singles matches in Grand Slam main draws. Her closest British rival is [[Anne Keothavong]], who has won four. |
|||
During her career, Baltacha has had victories over top 10 players [[Li Na (tennis)|Na Li]] and [[Francesca Schiavone]]. |
During her career, Baltacha has had victories over top 10 players [[Li Na (tennis)|Na Li]] and [[Francesca Schiavone]]. |
Revision as of 17:24, 30 July 2010
Country (sports) | Great Britain |
---|---|
Residence | Enfield, Middlesex |
Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) |
Turned pro | 1997 |
Plays | Right-handed (double-handed backhand) |
Prize money | $681,186 |
Singles | |
Career record | 264–185 |
Career titles | 0 WTA (9 ITF) |
Highest ranking | 52 (21 June 2010) |
Current ranking | 59 (26 July 2010) |
Grand Slam singles results | |
Australian Open | 3R (2005, 2010) |
French Open | 1R (2010) |
Wimbledon | 3R (2002) |
US Open | Q3 (2008, 2009) |
Doubles | |
Career record | 59–57 |
Career titles | 0 WTA (4 ITF) |
Highest ranking | 213 (17 October 2005) |
Grand Slam doubles results | |
Australian Open | 2R (2010) |
French Open | – |
Wimbledon | 2R (2005, 2010) |
US Open | – |
Mixed doubles | |
Career titles | 0 |
Grand Slam mixed doubles results | |
Australian Open | – |
French Open | – |
Wimbledon | 3R (2002) |
US Open | – |
Last updated on: 26 July 2010. |
Elena Baltacha (Ukrainian: Олена Балтача) is a double AEGON Award Winning, British[1] tennis player of Ukrainian parentage who has plays for Great Britain[2] and formerly Scotland in the now defunct Aberdeen Cup. She is the current British number 1, with a current ranking of World No.59. Her career high ranking of World No. 52 was achieved on 21 June 2010.
Over the course of her career she has won nine ITF singles titles (five $25,000, one $50,000, two $75,000 and one $100,000) and four ITF doubles titles (all $25,000). She has also twice been a runner-up in ITF events in singles and four times in doubles.
During her career, Baltacha has had victories over top 10 players Na Li and Francesca Schiavone.
Personal life
Baltacha was born 14 August 1983 in Kiev, Ukraine. She comes from a sporting family: her father Sergei is a former professional footballer, representing the USSR and playing in the United Kingdom with Ipswich Town, St Johnstone and Inverness Caledonian Thistle, and her mother Olga represented the USSR in both the pentathlon and heptathlon at the Olympic Games.[3] Her brother Sergei played football for Scottish Football League team St Mirren of Paisley and for Millwall.[4]
After arriving at Heathrow Airport on 13 January 1989, Elena moved to Ipswich where her father Sergei was to play football for the next year before moving to Scotland. The family lived in Perth where she grew up and spent her teenage years.[3]
Currently living in Enfield, London, England, with her mother, she practises at the Hazelwood Lawn Tennis and Squash Club, in Winchmore Hill, North London, where she is coached by her ex-boyfriend Nino Severino, Nigel Sears and Simon Walsh.[5] She is part of a tennis academy set up at Hazelwood, aimed at grooming talented young players into future professionals.[6]
Career
Junior (1997–2001)
Elena played her first match on the ITF junior circuit in February 1997 and her last at the 2001 US Open junior tournament. She never won a title but reached the final of two junior tournaments, at the 14th Bahia Junior Cup and at the LTA International Junior Tournament, Bisham Abbey. She also reached the semifinals of three tournaments and the quarterfinals of six others. In 2001 she reached the semifinals of the Wimbledon juniors championships where she was beaten by eventual champion, Angelique Widjaja, 7–5 6–7(2) 2–6. Over the course of her career as a junior, she gained wins over players such as Svetlana Kuznetsova, Gisela Dulko (twice) and Anne Keothavong. Her career-high singles ranking was World No. 77 and her final singles win-loss record was 40–40.[7]
As a doubles competitor, Elena won four tournaments and lost in the final of four more. She also lost in the semifinal stages of tournaments four times and the quarterfinals eight times. Her final doubles win-loss record was 37–30 and her career-high doubles ranking was World No. 60.[7]
1997–2000
In November 1997, Elena made her debut on the ITF circuit in Edinburgh where she was beaten in the first round of the qualifying stages in three sets by Danica Kovakova. She did however reach the quarterfinals of the doubles tournament.[8]
She played only three adult ITF tournaments in 1998 (Birmingham, Southsea and Glasgow, all $10,000 events) and lost in the qualifying stages for each of them.[8]
1999 saw her first ITF main draw appearances. She competed in four tournaments in total and reached the quarterfinals of the $10,000 tournament in Glasgow.[8]
In April 2000, Baltacha reached the quarterfinals of the $10,000 tournament in Bournemouth as a qualifier. She was given a wild card into the qualifying draw of her home Grand Slam, The Championships, Wimbledon where Flavia Pennetta beat her in three sets, 3–6 6–4 2–6. In October she received another wild card, this one into the Swisscom Challenge, a tier I tournament held in Zürich. The very next week she was a quarterfinalist at the $50,000 ITF tournament in Cardiff. Her season ending singles ranking was World No. 397.[8]
2001
Elena reached the quarterfinals of her first tournament of the year in January, a $10,000 ITF tournament in Jersey when she was forced to retire with the score at 3–6 0–1. She was out of action until late April when she reached the quarterfinals of the $10,000 tournament in Hatfield. Two weeks later she reached the quarterfinals of the $25,000 tournament in Edinburgh as a qualifier. She followed this up with a run to the semifinals of the $25,000 event in Surbiton. She was then given a wild card into the qualifying draw for the tier II event in Eastbourne, the Britannic Asset Management International Championships where she beat Frenchwoman, Virginie Razzano, 3–6 6–1 6–1, in the final round of qualifying to reach the main draw. Conchita Martínez beat her in the first round, 3–6 3–6. Just a week later she was given a wild card into the main draw of Wimbledon to give her the first appearance in the main draw of a Grand Slam. She was beaten, 1–6 5–7, by Nathalie Dechy in round one. Following Wimbledon she reached yet another ITF quarterfinal; this one in a $25,000 tournament in Felixstowe. She lost in round one of the qualifying tournament for the US Open in August and competed in four more ITF tournaments, reaching the quarterfinals of two of them (both $25,000). She ended the year with a singles ranking of World No. 248.[8]
2002
In February, Baltacha reached the quarterfinals of the $25,000 ITF tournament in Sutton. She played for her country in the Fed Cup in April and won her singles rubber against Norway's, Annette Aksdal, 6–0 6–1. She then beat Lina Stančiūtė from Lithuania in the relegation play offs in three sets, 4–6 6–2 6–2. Following this she attempted to qualify for the tier III, Croatian Bol Ladies Open where she was beaten in round one of the qualifying draw. This was the first of a string of five consecutive losses, the last of which was in the first round of the qualifying draw for the DFS Classic, a tier III event. She broke this string of losses with a win over Alina Jidkova in round one of the qualifying draw for the tier II, Britannic Asset Management International Championships. She was beaten by Elena Likhovtseva in the second round of qualifying. She was then given a wild card into the main draw of Wimbledon where she beat María Vento-Kabchi (6–4 6–4) in the first round[9] and Amanda Coetzer (5–7 6–4 6–2) in the second round[10] before losing to Elena Likhovtseva (for the second time in two consecutive tournaments), 4–6 6–7(2), in the third round.[11]
Her next tournament after Wimbledon was the $25,000 ITF event in Felixstowe which she won by beating Irishwoman, Kelly Liggan, in the final to give her the first ITF singles title of her career.[12] Two weeks later she won her second title in Pamplona, again $25,000, when she defeated Virginie Pichet, 6–2 6–1, in the final. After this she attempted to qualify for the US Open but lost in the first round of the qualifying tournament for the second consecutive year. She played two more $25,000 ITF tournaments after the US Open, Glasgow and Southampton, where she reached the semifinals and quarterfinals respectively. Her season ending ranking for 2002 was World No. 157.[8]
2003
Elena's 2003 season started slowly; she lost in round one of the qualifying tournament for the first Grand Slam of the year, the Australian Open. In April she was again part of the Great Britain Fed Cup team but lost her only match against Hungary's Petra Mandula, 1–6 3–6. She spent May failing to qualify for the tier III tournament, the Internationaux de Strasbourg and the second Grand Slam of the year, the French Open. In June she was given a wild card into the main draw of the DFS Classic but was forced to retire during her first round match verses fellow Brit, Jane O'Donoghue, with the score at 7–6(4) 5–7 0–1.[13] She was then awarded another wild card; this one into the qualifying draw of the tier II Hastings Direct International where she was beaten by Virginie Razzano, 4–6 1–6. For the third year running, she received a wild card into the main draw of Wimbledon where she forced the former world No. 5, Jelena Dokić, to fight for her eventual 3–6 6–1 4–6 victory.[14] This was Elena's final match of the year as she underwent invasive surgery after Wimbledon (to determine the cause of her persistent liver troubles) which put her out of action until 2004. As a result, her year-end singles ranking fell to World No. 373.[8]
2004
Baltacha returned to action with a vengeance in January 2004 by reaching the semifinals of her first two ITF tournaments of the year. These were the $10,000 event in Hull and the $25,000 event in Sunderland. She played in the Fed Cup for the Great Britain Fed Cup team where she won her two singles rubbers against Turkey and Romania by beating Cigdem Duru (6–1 6–0) and Monica Niculescu (6–1 6–4) respectively. She also beat Irishwoman, Yvonne Doyle, in the Europe/Africa Group II play-offs. In June, Samantha Stosur beat Elena in the first round of the DFS Classic and Cara Black beat her in the final round of the qualifying tournament for the Hastings Direct International one week later.[15] Baltacha then headed to Wimbledon main draw courtesy of another wild card. She demolished World No. 61, Marta Marrero, 6–1 6–3, in round one[16] before falling, 4–6 4–6, to 3-time Grand Slam champion, Jennifer Capriati in the second round.[17]
Between Wimbledon and the US Open qualifying tournament (where she reached the second round before being beaten by Angelique Widjaja), she suffered three consecutive first-round losses in $50,000 ITF tournaments in the United States. After the US Open she reached the final of a $25,000 ITF event in Jersey where she lost, 6–3 2–6 1–6, to Emma Laine. She spent the remainder of her year competing on the ITF circuit and her year-end singles ranking rose to World No. 202.[8]
2005
In the 2005 Australian Open qualifying tournament she won three matches in straight sets to successfully qualify; she beat Els Callens, Jaslyn Hewitt and Teryn Ashley in rounds one, two and three respectively. In the first round of the main draw she beat Katarina Srebotnik, 5–7 6–4 6–4, who later remarked that the Brit was "on fire" and that "if [Elena] plays like today, she can beat anyone. Some of the shots she was hitting were unbelievable."[18] She continued her winning streak with another three set victory in round two, this one over Frenchwoman, Stéphanie Cohen-Aloro, 2–6 6–3 6–1.[19] Unfortunately for Baltacha, she ran out of steam in the third round, losing 1–6 0–6 to No. 15 seed, Silvia Farina Elia.[20] She used her momentum from her good performance in the first Grand Slam of the year to carry her to the semifinals of her next tournament, a $25,000 ITF event in Sunderland where she lost to Sofia Arvidsson, 6–1 6–7(3) 0–6. She then immediately reached the finals of another $25,000 ITF event (this one in Redbridge) before being beaten, 0–6 3–6, by Nika Ožegović. She again played for Great Britain in the Fed Cup. She lost her singles rubber against Ana Timotic from Serbia, won her singles rubber verses Karina-Ildor Jacobsgaard and was demolished in her third singles rubber against Katarina Srebotnik, 1–6 1–6, in retribution for her first round Australian Open exit. In the Europe/Africa Group I play-off, Elena was defeated by Ukrainian, Alona Bondarenko, 1–6 3–6.
She then failed to qualify for two consecutive tier I events before losing in the first round of qualifying for the French Open when she was beaten by Elise Tamaela, 7–5 2–6 1–6. In June, three consecutive wild cards granted her entry into the main draws of the DFS Classic, the Hastings Direct International and Wimbledon where she was beaten by Milagros Sequera in the second round (after beating Alona Bondarenko in the first), Conchita Martínez in round one[21] and Sabine Klaschka in the first round respectively. Following Wimbledon, Elena traveled to the ITF circuit in the United States without much success; she won only one of five matches she played in the run-up to the US Open qualifying draw where she also lost in the first round of qualifying. She then returned to the ITF circuit and reached the quarterfinals of the $25,000 event in Glasgow, the semifinals of the $25,000 event in Bolton and won the $25,000 tournament in Jersey. Her year-end singles ranking for the 2005 season was World No. 122.[8]
2006
For Elena, 2006 was a year much shortened by injury. Her first tournament of the year was the qualifying event for the Australian Open where she lost to Yuan Meng, 2–6 4–6, at the second stage of qualifying. In February she played one $25,000 ITF event (where she lost to Melanie South in the first round) and attempted to qualify for three consecutive tier II tournaments: Antwerp, Dubai (beaten in final round by Kateryna Bondarenko)[22][23] and Qatar. This was then followed by two first round losses in $25,000 ITF tournaments and a run to the semifinals of another. In May she again represented Great Britain in the Fed Cup and again won all three of her singles matches. She beat: Hungarian, Kyra Nagy, Bulgaria's Dimana Krastevitch and Valeria Bondarenko from Ukraine. In the Europe/Africa play-off however, she lost to Slovakia's, Magdaléna Rybáriková. After the Fed Cup, Elena played only one more tournament in 2006. This tournament was the French Open where she lost in round one of qualifying to Yevgenia Savransky, 7–6(7) 2–6 2–6. She underwent keyhole surgery on a prolapsed disc on the 7th June and spent the rest of the season out-of-action recovering[24] and as a result, her season-ending ranking was World No. 347.[8]
2007
By the time Elena returned to action in March 2007 after surgery on a prolapsed disc, her singles ranking had fallen to 660 in the world and as such, she had to qualify for her first $25,000 ITF tournament of the year in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. She successfully qualified before losing to Sorana Cîrstea, 3–6 6–3 6–7(1), in the first round. She competed in two more $25,000 events in March (reaching the quarterfinals of one) before heading to Bulgaria to compete in the Fed Cup for Britain. She played two singles matches (winning one) and four doubles matches (winning two). Following this she reached two consecutive $25,000 ITF semifinals in Incheon and Gimcheon, one as a qualifier and the other as a lucky loser. She consolidated these results with a run to the quarterfinals of another $25,000 in Changwon. In June she received a wild card into the main draw of the DFS Classic where she showed "fighting spirit" in her first round loss to Milagros Sequera.[25] She then received a wild card into the qualifying draw for the Hastings Direct International and proved she deserved it by dropping only nine games in the three matches she won to successfully qualify. She then went on to beat the British No. 1, Anne Keothavong, in round one of the main draw in a tense three set match, 6–2 2–6 7–6(5), and join fellow Brits, Melanie South and Katie O'Brien in the second round, making this the first year since 1991 that three British women reached the second round.[26] She couldn't quite match up to World No. 14, Nicole Vaidišová, in the second round though; Elena was beaten, 3–6 2–6.[27] She then received another wild card into the main draw of Wimbledon but wasn't able to overcome the 19th seed, Katarina Srebotnik, and lost 6–7(4) 6–3 2–6.[28]
After Wimbledon, Elena headed to the United States to compete again on the ITF circuit where she reached the quarterfinals of the $50,000 event in Lexington. After being beaten in the first round of qualifying for the US Open by Evgeniya Rodina (2–6 4–6), Elena headed to Japan to attempt to qualify for the Japan Open. She beat Maria-Emilia Salerni, Agnes Szatmari and Natalie Grandin to qualify and then continued winning by defeating Yan Zi, 2–6 6–2 6–4, in the first round. She was defeated by No. 5 seed and eventual champion, Virginie Razzano, in round 2 with a score of 2–6 2–6. This was followed by an unsuccessful attempt to qualify for a tier III event in Bangkok and then a return to the ITF circuit where she reached the semifinals in Makinohara and the quarterfinals in Hamanako (both $25,000), losing both times to Japan's, Seiko Okamoto. Her final singles ranking of 2007 was World No. 187.[8]
2008
Baltacha began her 2008 season by qualifying for the ASB Classic, beating compatriot, Melanie South, along the way. She faced two-time ASB Classic champion and No. 7 seed, Eleni Danilidou, in the opening round and was beaten decisively, 1–6 2–6. She then progressed to round two of the qualifying tournament for the Australian Open when her opponent, Virginie Pichet, retired when down one set.[29] She was beaten in the second round of qualifying by Zhang Shuai, 4–6 1–6.[30] In February she tried to qualify for Doha (tier I) and Dubai (tier II) but was unsuccessful in both. She then returned to action on the ITF circuit and won her next two consecutive tournaments: Jersey ($25,000) and Torhout ($75,000). In May she again lost in the first round of the qualifying tournament for the French Open and in June she again received a wild card into the main draw of the DFS Classic where she was beaten in round one by Ekaterina Makarova, 5–7 6–7(1). Another wild card granted her entry into the qualifying rounds of the International Women's Open where she won her first match against Naomi Cavaday before retiring at one set down in her second match against Tsvetana Pironkova. She then played in the main draw of Wimbledon (again courtesy of a wild card) where she beat Angelique Kerber, 6–3 2–6 7–5 in the first round.[31] She was defeated in the second round by China's eventual semifinalist, Zheng Jie in straight sets, 2–6 5–7.[32]
Elena then lost three consecutive matches before defeating Anna Korzeniak and Carly Gullickson in the first two rounds of qualifying for the US Open. She fell just short of reaching the main draw when she lost to Julie Coin, 5–7 6–2 6–7(4), in the final round of qualifying. She played seven more higher-level ITF tournaments over the rest of the year and reached the quarterfinals in one of them: the $50,000 event in Ismaning where she lost to Julia Görges. Her year-end ranking was World No. 136.[8]
2009
Elena began 2009 by falling in the first round of qualifying for the ASB Classic before winning three matches to successfully qualify for the Australian Open. She joined compatriots, Katie O'Brien (also a qualifier), Anne Keothavong and Melanie South in the main draw; the first time that four British women had competed in the main draw of a Grand Slam other than Wimbledon since the 1992 U.S. Open.[33][34] Baltacha came up against German, Anna-Lena Grönefeld, in the first round and defeated her comfortably, 6–1 6–4, to set up a clash with former World No. 1, Amélie Mauresmo. Despite surprising many by taking the first set, Baltacha eventually lost, 4–6 6–3 6–2.[35]
February saw Elena represent Great Britain in the Fed Cup where she won all three of her singles rubbers in straight sets. In April, Elena was the top seed in the $75,000 ITF tournament in Monzón where she reached the quarterfinals before losing to former world No. 4, Kimiko Date Krumm in a close three-setter, 7–5 4–6 6–7(4). Later that month she reached the final of a $25,000 ITF where she faced the No. 6 seed, Junri Namigata, and won, 6–3 6–1, to give her the sixth ITF singles title of her career.[36] In May she reached the semifinals of a $50,000 ITF in Fukuoka before going on to reach the final round of qualifying for the French Open, losing to Yaroslava Shvedova, 2–6 2–6. Between the French Open and Wimbledon, she reached the semifinals of another $50,000 ITF and reached the second round of the International WTA tournament, the AEGON Classic. She beat Georgie Stoop in the first round before falling in an epic three-set battle with the then World No. 27, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, 7–6(1) 3–6 6–7(3). She received a wild card into the main draw of Wimbledon in June where she came up against World No. 33, Alona Bondarenko, in the first round. Baltacha managed to come back from a set down to win, 3–6 6–3 6–4. She went on to lose to Kirsten Flipkens, 5–7 1–6, in round two.[37]
This was followed by three consecutive losses in the first round of qualifying for WTA events before Elena won two matches to qualify for the Rogers Cup, a Premier tournament. She faced former World No. 1, Kim Clijsters, in the second tournament of her comeback and lost to the Belgian in straight sets, 3–6 4–6. Following this, she reached the final round of qualifying for the US Open before going on to win the $75,000 ITF in Shrewsbury. She beat fellow Brit, Katie O'Brien, in the final, 6–3 4–6 6–3. This result was enough to put both finalists into the top 100 for the first time in each of their careers.[38] After this, Elena reached the semifinals of one more $50,000 ITF, the second round of a $100,000 ITF (where she had to withdraw due to food poisoning) and the quarterfinals of a $75,000 ITF tournament. These showings helped her accumulate enough points to catapult her back to the British number 1 spot. Her year-end ranking was World No. 87.[8]
2010
Elena began her 2010 season by winning three matches to successfully qualify for the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand. She faced Ioana Raluca Olaru in the first round but lost the match, 2–6 2–6. She then went on to reach the main draw of the Moorilla Hobart International by winning three matches in the qualifying draw, including beating world #67, and former top 5 player, Anna Chakvetadze, 7–5 7–6(3). She went on to play resurgent former world number 4, Jelena Dokić, in round one but lost, 4–6 2–6.
Due to her improved world ranking, Baltacha entered the main draw of the 2010 Australian Open for the first time in her career without having to qualify. She faced Pauline Parmentier of France in the first round, a player ranked 22 places below her and won 6–4 3–6 7–5. With the consequent victory of Katie O'Brien, this became the first time since Jo Durie, Clare Wood and Monique Javer, in 1991, that more than one British woman had reached the second round of the Australian Open. Baltacha defeated Ukrainian 30th seed Kateryna Bondarenko 6–2 7–5 in the second round, recovering from 0–3 down in the second set.[39]. This marked the third time in Baltacha's career that she has reached the third round of a Grand Slam, and the second time in Melbourne. In the last 32 her run was ended by the Russian World Number Two Dinara Safina after she was defeated 1–6 2–6 on the Rod Laver arena[40]. Baltacha was also in the main draw of the women's doubles, partnering Liga Dekmeijere of Latvia. They recorded a surprise 7–5 6–2 victory over Lucie Šafářová and Aleksandra Wozniak in the first round. The duo next faced the 15th seeds, Maria Kirilenko and Agnieszka Radwańska, in the second round and lost in straight sets, 6–0 6–2.
In February, Elena competed in the Dow Corning Tennis Classic in Michigan, USA. Seeded 3rd, she beat Marta Domachowska in the semi-finals, for a place in the final against Lucie Hradecká. This was Baltacha's first ITF $100,000 event win, as she beat Hrdecka in 3 sets 5–7 6–3 6–2. The following day she achieved her highest world ranking to date, of world No. 70. Baltacha continued her good form at the Cellular South Cup in Memphis, advancing to the quarterfinals after defeating Voráčová of the Czech Republic and Canada's Tetreault in straight sets. Elena fell to #1 seed Maria Sharapova in straight sets, 6–2, 7–5
Baltacha successfully qualified for the 2010 BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells after defeating Julia Boserup 2–6, 6–4, 6–4 and Ekaterina Bychkova 6–3, 6–4. In the first round of the main draw she defeated American wildcard Alexa Glatch 6–3, 6–7(3), 6–4. In the second round she played the match of her life against No.7 seed and World No.10 Na Li, defeating her 7–6(6), 2–6, 7–6(7) in 2 hours 50 minutes. Baltacha looked down and out in the final set tiebreak as she was 5–1 down. She saved 3 match points, 2 of which were on Li's serve, and rallied back with tremendous effort to secure the biggest win of her career. In the third round she faced Australian wildcard Alicia Molik. Alas, she lost 6–0, 6–2. Despite having a career high ranking of No.62, Baltacha had to qualify for another Premier Mandatory event, the 2010 Sony Ericsson Open in Miami. As the draw is made 6 weeks in advance, Baltacha just missed the initial cut, and was seeded #2 in qualifying. She faced Julie Ditty in the first round, winning in straight sets 6–4 6–4. She then qualified for the main draw by defeating Yung-jan Chan, seeded 14th, 6–4, 7–6(6) despite being 4–6 down in the tiebreaker and being broken 6 times during the match. In the first round of the main draw she faced world No.59 Iveta Benešová, winning in straight sets 6–2 6–4, setting up a 2nd round encounter with 12th seed Yanina Wickmayer, who defeated Baltacha 6–1 6–3. Following the end of the tournament Elena debuted in the top 60 at #59.
Elena was scheduled to appear in Torhout, Belgium where she won in 2008, but she chose to miss the event and go straight to Johannesberg for the 100K Soweto event. Elena made it to the quarter finals after striaght set wins over Diatchenko of Russia and Germany's Kathrin Wörle before going down in 3 sets to Jarmila Groth of Australia after winning the opening set. At the start of May, Elena moved off hard courts and onto the Clay with a her first apperence at the Premier 5 event in Rome, the Internazionali BNL d'Italia. She was upset in the first round of qualifying by Gréta Arn 2–6, 6–3, 7–6(5). In her final event before the French Open, Bally played the Internationaux de Strasbourg and was the 8th seed. Her first round opponent, was clay specialist and world #35 Sorana Cîrstea. Baltacha won in straight sets and in the second round retired after 3 games with a back injury against Anastasia Rodionova. At the French Open, Baltacha faced 8th seed Agnieszka Radwańska in the first round. Elena lost 6–0, 7–5. She also entered the doubles but pulled out due to the back injury again before the 1st round.
Baltacha moved onto the grass at the AEGON Trophy 50K event in Nottingham. Elena completed a career set of 25, 50, 75 and 100 K event wins, when she beat Carly Gullickson 2 and 2 in the final[41]. Baltacha competed at the 2010 AEGON Classic,in Birmingham. Seeded 12th, she played qualifier, former top 20 player, Kaia Kanepi in the first round. After losing the first set 1-6, Baltacha retired and stated she started to feel ill from 1-2. On her twitter page, she said she suspected food poisoning as the reason. Baltacha was then given a wilcard into the 2010 AEGON International at Eastbourne. She defeated, for the second time in 2010, Li Na in the first round. When Li retired after taking the first set 7-6(6) with an apparent leg injury.[42] Baltacha defeated another Chinese player Zheng Jie in the next round with a score of 6-2, 1-6, 6-3. Becoming the first Brit since 1983 to reach the quarter finals of the event.[43] Despite playing some of her best tennis, Baltacha lost to Samantha Stosur in the quarter-finals 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-0.[44] Baltacha had a disapointing Wimbledon though as she crashed out in the first round to Petra Martic, leading to the Guardian to say she choked. Baltasha herself admitted to getting tight.[45]
Starting her lead up to the US Open, Baltacha played in the Istanbul Cup, facing world 198, wildcard Cagla Buyukakcay of Turkey. Baltacha won a hard fought match 7-5 7-6(4). [46] Baltacha then faced the world #8 and French Open Champion, Francesca Schiavone. Despite being ranked 51 places behind the Italian, Baltacha won in straight sets 6-4 6-2, her biggest win to date, to set up a quarter-final match again Andrea Petkovic.[47][48] Baltacha lost 6-4 6-0 against Petkovic in the quarter final.[49]
WTA tour and ITF circuit titles (13)
|
|
Singles (9)
No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent in the final | Score |
1. | 14 July 2002 | Felixstowe $25,000 | Grass | Kelly Liggan | 4–6 6–2 6–3 |
2. | 28 July 2002 | Pamplona $25,000 | Hard | Virginie Pichet | 6–2 6–1 |
3. | 16 October 2005 | Jersey $25,000 | Hard | Daniella Kix | 6–4 6–4 |
4. | 30 March 2008 | Jersey $25,000 | Hard | Ana Vrljić | 6–1 6–3 |
5. | 6 April 2008 | Torhout $75,000 | Hard | Iveta Benešová | 6–7(5) 6–1 6–4 |
6. | 26 April 2009 | Changwon $25,000 | Hard | Junri Namigata | 6–3 6–1 |
7. | 26 September 2009 | Shrewsbury $75,000 | Hard | Katie O'Brien | 6–3 4–6 6–3 |
8. | 14 February 2010 | Midland $100,000 | Hard | Lucie Hradecká | 5–7 6–3 6–2 |
9. | 5 June 2010 | Nottingham $50,000 | Grass | Carly Gullickson | 6–2 6–2 |
Doubles (4)
No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponent in the final | Score |
1. | 21 July 2002 | Valladolid $25,000 | Hard | Natacha Randriantefy | Leanne Baker Manisha Malhotra |
6–2 6–3 |
2. | 28 July 2002 | Pamplona $25,000 | Hard | Kelly Liggan | Yvonne Doyle Susanne Trik |
6–7(6) 7–6(1) 6–3 |
3. | 17 October 2004 | Sunderland $25,000 | Hard | Jane O’Donoghue | Eva Fislová Stanislava Hrozenská |
6–1 4–6 6–2 |
4. | 25 September 2005 | Glasgow $25,000 | Carpet | Margit Rüütel | Anne Keothavong Karen Paterson |
6–3 6–7(2) 6–2 |
WTA tour and ITF circuit runner-up (6)
|
|
Singles (2)
No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent in the final | Score |
1. | 26 September 2004 | Jersey $25,000 | Hard | Emma Laine | 6–3 2–6 1–6 |
2. | 13 February 2005 | Redbridge[disambiguation needed] $25,000 | Hard | Nika Ožegović | 0–6 3–6 |
Doubles (4)
No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponent in the final | Score |
1. | 6 May 2001 | Hatfield $10,000 | Clay | Nicola Trinder | Natalia Egorova Ekaterina Sysoeva |
3–6 6–4 1–6 |
2. | 25 March 2006 | Reading $ 25,000 | Hard | Yevheniia Savranska | Vasilisa Bardina Ahsha Rolle |
7–5 5–7 4–6 |
3. | 8 June 2007 | Surbiton $25,000 | Grass | Naomi Cavaday | Melanie South Karen Paterson |
1–6 4–6 |
4. | 26 April 2009 | Changwon $25,000 | Hard | Amanda Elliott | Chang Kai-Chen Chen Yi |
4–6 1–6 |
Singles performance timeline
Template:Performance timeline legend
NM5 | means an event that is neither a Premier Mandatory nor a Premier 5 tournament. |
To prevent confusion and double counting, information in this table is updated only once a tournament or the player's participation in the tournament has concluded. This table is current through the 2010 Wimbledon Championships in London, which will end 4 July.
'Tournament' | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | Career Win–Loss |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Grand Slam Tournaments | ||||||||||||
Australian Open | A | A | A | 1R | A | 3R | LQ | A | LQ | 2R | 3R | 5–4 |
French Open | A | A | A | LQ | A | LQ | LQ | A | LQ | LQ | 1R | 0–1 |
Wimbledon | LQ | 1R | 3R | 1R | 2R | 1R | A | 1R | 2R | 2R | 1R | 5–10 |
US Open | A | LQ | LQ | A | LQ | LQ | A | LQ | LQ | LQ | 0–0 | |
Olympic Games | ||||||||||||
Summer Olympics | A | Not Held | A | Not Held | A | Not Held | 0–0 | |||||
Year-End Championship | ||||||||||||
WTA Tour Championships | A | 0–0 | ||||||||||
WTA Premier Mandatory Tournaments | ||||||||||||
Indian Wells | A | 3R | 2–1 | |||||||||
Miami | A | LQ | A | LQ | 2R | 1–1 | ||||||
Madrid | Not Held | A | A | 0–0 | ||||||||
Beijing | Not Tier I | A | 0–0 | |||||||||
WTA Premier 5 Tournaments | ||||||||||||
Dubai | Not Tier I | A | 0–0 | |||||||||
Rome | A | LQ | A | LQ | 0–0 | |||||||
Cincinnati | Not Tier I | LQ | 0–0 | |||||||||
Montréal / Toronto | A | 1R | 0–1 | |||||||||
Tokyo | A | 0–0 | ||||||||||
Career statistics | ||||||||||||
Tournaments played | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 7 | N/A |
Finals reached | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A |
Tournaments Won | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A |
Year End Ranking | 397 | 248 | 157 | 373 | 202 | 122 | 347 | 187 | 136 | 87 | N/A |
References
- ^ a b Henderson, Jon (12 January 2003). "Now get out of that: Profile of British tennis player Elena Baltacha". Observer Sport Monthly. London. Retrieved 2009-06-26.
- ^ LTA profile
- ^ a b "Elena Baltacha: Beating ill health is Baltacha's first target". London: www.independent.co.uk. 21 June 2003. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
- ^ LTA player profile
- ^ "British No 1 Elena Baltacha Q&A". The Telegraph. 2010-05-20. Retrieved 2010-05-20.
- ^ Harman, Neil (22 January 2009). "Elena Baltacha bows out after giving Mauresmo a scare". London: www.timesonline.co.uk. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
- ^ a b Elena Baltacha profile at www.itftennis.com/juniors
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Activity: BALTACHA, Elena (GBR)". www.itftennis.com.
- ^ Harris, Nick (26 June 2002). "Baltacha saves day as home players fall". London: www.independent.co.uk. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
- ^ Harris, Nick (28 June 2002). "Baltacha pulls off hair-raising triumph". London: www.independent.co.uk. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
- ^ Atkin, Ronald (30 June 2002). "From Russia with regret for Baltacha". London: www.independent.co.uk. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
- ^ Whyte, Derrick (15 July 2002). "'Exhausted' Baltacha takes first title". London: www.independent.co.uk. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
- ^ Shaw, Phil (10 June 2003). "Wimbledon doubt for tearful Kournikova". London: www.independent.co.uk. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
- ^ Harris, Nick (25 June 2003). "Brave Baltacha takes fight to Dokic as British challenge crumbles". London: www.independent.co.uk. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
- ^ "Encouraging display fuels Baltacha on voyage back to form". London: www.independent.co.uk. 15 June 2004. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
- ^ Harris, Nick (23 June 2004). "Baltacha win breathes life into British game". London: www.independent.co.uk. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
- ^ Edmondson, Richard (26 June 2004). "Capriati, the seasoned sage of the circuit, offers determined Baltacha encouragement". London: www.independent.co.uk. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
- ^ Marks, Kathy (18 January 2005). "Baltacha's shock victory brings cheer for Britain". London: www.independent.co.uk. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
- ^ Casey, Phil (19 January 2005). "True grit as Baltacha fights back in Melbourne". London: www.independent.co.uk. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
- ^ Marks, Kathy (22 January 2005). "Baltacha bows out to build on big break". London: www.independent.co.uk. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
- ^ Roberts, John (15 June 2005). "'Naff games' cost Baltacha £50,000". London: www.independent.co.uk. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
- ^ Newman, Paul (20 February 2006). "Baltacha back in the groove to stand on the brink of Dubai Open". London: www.independent.co.uk. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
- ^ Newman, Paul (21 February 2006). "Baltacha battles in vain". London: www.independent.co.uk. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
- ^ "Injury to Djokovic eases path for Nadal". London: www.independent.co.uk. 8 June 2006. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
- ^ Laybourn, Ian (13 June 2007). "Cavaday's shock victory lifts the gloom for Britain". London: www.independent.co.uk. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
- ^ Pierce, Bill (20 June 2007). "Baltacha survives British roller-coaster to earn rapid rise". London: www.independent.co.uk. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
- ^ McLoughlin, Brendan; Pierce, Bill (21 June 2007). "Henman rues lapses in loss to Tursunov". London: www.independent.co.uk. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
- ^ Rowbottom, Mike (27 June 2007). "O'Brien win hints at new dawn for British women". London: www.independent.co.uk. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
- ^ Newman, Paul (11 January 2008). "Four British players rise above heat to win qualifying matches". London: www.independent.co.uk. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
- ^ Newman, Paul (12 January 2008). "Henman's conqueror Tsonga provides first obstacle for Murray". London: www.independent.co.uk. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
- ^ Herbert, Ian (24 June 2008). "Baltacha draws on fighting spirit for emotional success". London: www.independent.co.uk. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
- ^ Herbert, Ian (26 June 2008). "Baltacha bows out to face uncertain future once again". London: www.independent.co.uk. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
- ^ "Baltacha & O'Brien into Open draw". www.news.bbc.co.uk. 17 January 2009. Retrieved 3 January 2010.
- ^ "British pair Elena Baltacha and Katie O'Brien qualify for Australian Open". London: www.telegraph.co.uk. 17 January 2009. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
- ^ "Heartache for beaten Baltacha as she fails to take her chances against Mauresmo". www.dailymail.co.uk.
- ^ "Baltacha wins title in Korea". www.lta.org.uk.
- ^ White, Jim (25 June 2009). "Wimbledon 2009: Elena Baltacha loses in straight sets to Kirsten Flipkens". London: www.telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
- ^ Harman, Neil (27 September 2009). "Elena Baltacha helps lift British gloom". London: www.timesonline.co.uk. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
- ^ [1] www.bbc.co.uk, 20 January 2010
- ^ [2] www.bbc.co.uk, 22 January 2010
- ^ http://www.lta.org.uk/News/All-news-items/2010-05-31/Baltacha-wins-AEGON-Trophy-title/
- ^ "Baltacha progresses after Li injury". Eastbourne Herald. 2010-06-16. Retrieved 2010-07-30.
- ^ Speck, Ivan (2010-06-16). "Brilliant Elena Baltacha through to quarter-finals in Eastbourne after beating Zheng Jie". Daily Mail. Retrieved 2010-07-30.
- ^ "Elena Baltacha crashes out of Eastbourne quarter-final after defeat to Stosur". Daily Record. 2010-06-18. Retrieved 2010-07-30.
- ^ Cambers, Simon (2010-06-21). "Elena falls and chokes at the first hurdle". Guardian. Retrieved 2010-07-30.
- ^ "Baltacha sets up Schiavone match". BBC Sport. 2010-07-27. Retrieved 2010-07-30.
- ^ "Elena Baltacha beats Francesca Schiavone in Turkey". BBC Sport. 2010-07-29. Retrieved 2010-07-30.
- ^ "British No1 Baltacha pulls off the biggest victory of her career". Daily Mail. 2010-07-30. Retrieved 2010-07-30.
- ^ "Baltacha blown away by Petkovic in Istanbul". ESPN. 2010-07-30. Retrieved 2010-07-30.
External links
- Elena Baltacha at the Women's Tennis Association
- Elena Baltacha at the Billie Jean King Cup
- {{ITF profile}} template using deprecated numeric ID.
- Template:ITF junior profile
- Official website