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Elena Baltacha, Former British No.1, Diagnosed With Liver Cancer

Former British No.1 Baltacha Diagnosed With Liver Cancer
The Huffington Post UK
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LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 24: Elena Baltacha of Great Britain hits a forehand during the Ladies Singles match against Flavia Pennetta of Italy on day one of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 24, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Dennis Grombkowski/Getty Images)
Dennis Grombkowski via Getty Images

Former British number one Elena Baltacha has been diagnosed with cancer of the liver.

The 30-year-old only retired from tennis in November last year but at the age of 19, she was diagnosed with the liver condition primary sclerosing cholangitis.

"I have recently been diagnosed with cancer of the liver," Baltacha said in a statement.

"I'm currently undergoing treatment and fighting this illness with everything I have."

Judy Murray, captain of the GB Fed Cup Team added: "Obviously this is a tough time for Bally, Nino and her family but she is a such a determined, upbeat person and everyone around her is staying positive as well. I know she'll be really grateful for all the support that she's getting."

Baltacha won 11 titles during her career and married her long-term coach and boyfriend Nino in December.

Elena Baltacha
Tennis - Elena Baltacha File Photo(01 of34)
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File photo dated 01/09/2011 of Great Britain's Elena Baltacha. (credit:PA)
Tennis - Elena Baltacha File Photo(02 of34)
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File photo dated 24/06/2013 of Great Britain's Elena Baltacha. (credit:PA)
Tennis - Elena Baltacha File Photo(03 of34)
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File photo dated 12/06/2011 of Great Britain's Elena Baltacha with the trophy after winning the AEGON Nottingham Challenge. (credit:PA)
Tennis - 2013 Wimbledon Championships - Day One - The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club(04 of34)
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Great Britain's Elena Baltacha in action against Italy's Flavia Pennetta (credit:PA)
Tennis - 2013 Wimbledon Championships - Day One - The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club(05 of34)
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Great Britain's Elena Baltacha in action against Italy's Flavia Pennetta (credit:PA)
Tennis - 2013 Wimbledon Championships - Day One - The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club(06 of34)
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Great Britain's Elena Baltacha in action against Italy's Flavia Pennetta (credit:PA)
Tennis - 2013 Wimbledon Championships - Day One - The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club(07 of34)
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Great Britain's Elena Baltacha in action against Italy's Flavia Pennetta (credit:PA)
Tennis - 2013 Wimbledon Championships - Day One - The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club(08 of34)
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Great Britain's Elena Baltacha in action against Italy's Flavia Pennetta during day one of the Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Wimbledon. (credit:PA)
Tennis - 2013 Wimbledon Championships - Day One - The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club(09 of34)
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Italy's Flavia Pennetta in action against Great Britain's Elena Baltacha (credit:PA)
Tennis - 2013 Wimbledon Championships - Day One - The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club(10 of34)
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Great Britain's Elena Baltacha in action against Italy's Flavia Pennetta during day one of the Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Wimbledon. (credit:PA)
Tennis - 2013 Wimbledon Championships - Day One - The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club(11 of34)
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Great Britain's Elena Baltacha in action against Italy's Flavia Pennetta during day one of the Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Wimbledon. (credit:PA)
Tennis - 2013 Wimbledon Championships - Day One - The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club(12 of34)
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Great Britain's Elena Baltacha in action against Italy's Flavia Pennetta during day one of the Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Wimbledon. (credit:PA)
Tennis - 2013 Wimbledon Championships - Day One - The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club(13 of34)
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Great Britain's Elena Baltacha in action against Italy's Flavia Pennetta during day one of the Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Wimbledon. (credit:PA)
Tennis - AEGON International 2013 - Day Five - Devonshire Park(14 of34)
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Great Britain's Elena Baltacha in action against Russia's Maria Kirilenko (credit:PA)
Tennis - AEGON International 2013 - Day Four - Devonshire Park(15 of34)
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Great Britain's Elena Baltacha in action against Kristyna Pliskova during the AEGON International at Devonshire Park, Eastbourne. (credit:PA)
Tennis - AEGON International 2013 - Day Four - Devonshire Park(16 of34)
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Great Britain's Elena Baltacha in action against Kristyna Pliskova during the AEGON International at Devonshire Park, Eastbourne. (credit:PA)
London Olympic Games - Day 3(17 of34)
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Great Britain's Elena Baltacha is consoled by a Great Britain staff member, after losing her Second Round match of the Women's Singles at the Olympic Tennis Venue, Wimbledon. (credit:PA)
London Olympic Games - Day 3(18 of34)
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Great Britain's Elena Baltacha shows her frustration, during her Second Round match of the Women's Singles at the Olympic Tennis Venue, Wimbledon. (credit:PA)
Tennis - Australian Open 2009 - Day Four - Melbourne Park(19 of34)
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Great Britain's Elena Baltacha during her second round match against France's Amelie Mauresmo during the Australian Open 2009 at Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia. (credit:PA)
Tennis - DFS Classic 2005 - First Round - Elena Baltacha v Alyon Bondarenko - Edgbaston Priory Club(20 of34)
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Great Britain's Elena Baltacha. (credit:PA)
Tennis - Hastings Direct International Championships 2005 - Kim Clijsters v Jelena Jankovic - Devonshire Park(21 of34)
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Great Britain's Elena Baltacha shows her dejection after losing against Conchita Martinez. (credit:PA)
Tennis - Australian Open 2005 - Women's First Round(22 of34)
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Elena Baltacha of Great Britain in action during her match against Katarina Srebotnik of Slovakia (credit:PA)
Tennis - Australian Open 2005 - Women's Second Round(23 of34)
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Elena Baltacha celebrates a winning point during her match against Stephanie Cohen-Aloro (credit:PA)
Tennis - Australian Open 2005 - Women's Second Round(24 of34)
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Elena Baltacha during her match against Stephanie Cohen-Aloro (credit:PA)
Tennis - Australian Open - Women's Third Round(25 of34)
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Elena Baltacha waves to her fans after her loss to Silvia Farina Elia (credit:PA)
Tennis - Australian Open - Day One.(26 of34)
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Elena Baltacha (GBR) in action against Alexandra Stevenson (USA) (credit:PA)
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Elena Baltacha (GBR) in action against Alexandra Stevenson (USA) (credit:PA)
Tennis - DFS Classic - Birmingham (28 of34)
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Elena Baltacha sits dejected in her chair before withdrawing from her match with Jane O'Donoghue (credit:PA)
Baltacha - Surbiton Trophy(29 of34)
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Great Britain's Elena Baltacha during her Surbiton Trophy 1st round match against Austrlia's Samantha Stosur in Surbiton, Surrey. (credit:PA)
Baltacha Wimbledon 2004(30 of34)
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Great Britain's Elena Baltacha in action before losing in straight sets 6:4/6:4 to Jennifer Capriati from the USA at The Lawn Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, London. EDITORIAL USE ONLY, NO MOBILE PHONE USE. (credit:PA)
Baltacha Wimbledon 2004(31 of34)
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Great Britain's Elena Baltacha casts her eyes to the sky as she loses in straight sets 6:4/6:4 to Jennifer Capriati from the USA at The Lawn Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, London. EDITORIAL USE ONLY, NO MOBILE PHONE USE. (credit:PA)
Tennis - Wimbledon Championships - Girls Semi Final (32 of34)
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Great Britain's Elena Baltacha in action in her junior girls semi final (credit:PA)
Tennis - Wimbledon Championships - Girls Semi Final (33 of34)
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Great Britain's Elena Baltacha in action in her junior girls semi final (credit:PA)
Elena Baltacha Wimbledon(34 of34)
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EDITORIAL USE ONLY, NO COMMERCIAL USE. Elena Baltacha flies the flag for Britain, 24 hours after defeating the 32 seed Amanda Coetzer in the second round at Wimbledon. (credit:PA)
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