Optimum Sports : Anne Keothavong

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Tuesday, 6 May 2014

Elena was One in a Million - Judy Murray

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Judy Murray has paid tribute to Elena Baltacha, who died of liver cancer at the age of 30 on Sunday.

Murray coached Baltacha as a junior in Scotland and then worked with her as captain of Britain's Fed Cup team.

She added it was "an awful loss" for tennis, those who knew and loved her, but most of all for her husband Nino Severino and her family.

She was one in a million," said Murray. "An absolute gem."

Murray added: "I don't have the words to say what an incredible person Bally was, how loved she was or what an inspiration she will continue to be to everyone who met her."

Baltacha, who was British number one for nearly three years and retired in November 2013, learned she had liver cancer in January 2014 - two months after retiring and only a few weeks after marrying her former coach Severino.

A host of tennis stars, including Martina Navratilova, Laura Robson, Andy Murray, Ross Hutchins, Tim Henman, Greg Rusedski, Jamie Murray, Jonny Marray, Anne Keothavong and Heather Watson, have agreed to take part in The Rally Against Cancer - Rally For Bally, a fundraising event to be held in Baltacha's memory on 15 June.

The mixed doubles exhibition matches at the Aegon Championships at Queen's Club, the Aegon Classic in Birmingham and the Aegon International in Eastbourne will raise money for the Royal Marsden national cancer charity and the Elena Baltacha Foundation.

#RIP

Thursday, 25 July 2013

Keothavong Retires from Tennis

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Former British number one Anne Keothavong has retired from tennis to pursue a career in broadcasting.

The 29-year-old reached seven WTA semi-finals and, in 2009, became the first British woman in 16 years to be ranked inside the world's top 50.

Keothavong will join BT Sport's tennis coverage team later this year.

"I think I am leaving tennis in excellent shape with both Laura Robson and Heather Watson leading the way for Britain in the women's game," she said.

Keothavong won a total of 20 singles titles on the International Tennis Federation circuit, the level below the top-tier WTA tour, and eight ITF doubles titles, reaching a career-high singles ranking of 48 in the world in early 2009.

In Grand Slams her high point was reaching the third round of the US Open in 2008, while at Tour level she reached the last four in 2009 in Warsaw, which was the best British result at a Premier level clay-court event since Jo Durie was a semi-finalist at the 1983 French Open.

She was ranked at 285th in the world before her retirement ,

Keothavong said: "I have given my decision a lot of thought and I believe this is the right time to move on to the next stage of my career.

Keothavong made 13 consecutive main draw appearances at Wimbledon despite her career being threatened by serious injuries to each knee.

LTA chief executive, Roger Draper, said: "Anne has been a true ambassador for British tennis, both on and off the court during her entire career.

"Anne's courage was evident in coming back from not one, but two challenging knee surgeries. A journey that began on the park courts of Hackney led to her being an inspirational role model for young girls everywhere, as well as to our current generation of players. We wish her well in the next chapter of her life."

Britain's Federation Cup captain Judy Murray added: "It's been a real pleasure for me to work with Anne as part of the Fed Cup team. You couldn't ask for a better, more committed team member - a great professional who represented her country with huge pride and passion