19 April,2014 08:41 AM IST | | A Correspondent
World No 8 Andy and legend Martina to play in fundraiser for cancer-affected British tennis player Elena Baltacha
Elena Baltacha, Andy Murray and Martina Navratilova
Britain's No 1 tennis player Andy Murray and veteran Martina Navratilova are all set to show their support for Britain's tennis player Elena Baltacha (30), who was forced to retire last year after being diagnosed with liver cancer.
Britain's Elena Baltacha poses for a photo during the preview of the Fed Cup World Group Two Play-Offs between Argentina and Great Britain in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Months later she was diagnosed with liver cancer and forced to retire from the game. Pic/Getty Images
Baltacha, who won 11 singles titles and reached the third round of Wimbledon in 2002, was born in Kiev but brought up in Scotland. She is also a former British No 1.
Wimbledon champion Andy (26) and Navratilova (57) will come together to organise the 'Rally For Bally' - Baltacha's nickname - on June 15.
Murray said Baltacha was an "unbelievably positive person." Navratilova is a cancer-survivor herself, having overcome breast cancer in 2010.
Andy Murray and Martina Navratilova
"My thoughts are with Elena and what she must be going through. It is great that the tennis world is coming together to support her, and to rally against cancer," she said.
Other former tennis stars like Tim Henman (39) Greg Rusedski (40) and current British player Laura Robson (20) are also set to feature in the mixed doubles matches to be played in London, Birmingham and Eastbourne.
The charity event will raise funds for Baltacha's tennis academy in Henley Road, Ipswich, as well as the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.
