[tipsadontlikehim]

Elena Baltacha's husband Nino Severino "heartbroken" by her death
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By Danielle Joynson, Staff Reporter
Filed: Monday, May 5, 2014 at 06:10 UK
Last Updated: Monday, May 5, 2014 at 06:11 UK
The husband of former British tennis number one Elena Baltacha has expressed his 'heartbreak' following the death of the 30-year-old.

Baltacha passed away in the early hours of Sunday morning following a battle with liver cancer.

The retired sportswoman, who was married to long-time coach and partner Nino Severino, was diagnosed with the disease in January this year.

In a statement, her husband said: "We are heartbroken beyond words at the loss of our beautiful, talented and determined Bally. She was an amazing person and she touched so many people with her inspirational spirit, her warmth and her kindness."

Baltacha won 11 singles titles in her career before retiring in November last year.

[slayer14]

A very brave tennis player this one, and brave woman off court, RIP

[frugalgambler]

Pretty sad indeed. Just curious, why was she brave ? Has she done anything special in her life ?

[rankslash]

She created the "Elena Baltacha Tennis Academy" in UK. The academy works with kids from 5-15 years old who can't afford to pay for tennis. Along with that, the academy operates as a charity foundation too.
Never been a fan of her tennis skills, but obviously she was a great person... RIP Elena.

[Punchy]

Pretty sad indeed. Just curious, why was she brave ? Has she done anything special in her life ?

There are many types of "brave" people on this earth

To me she fought bravely to not let her illness stop her from playing on. She was diagnosed with this condition 8 years ago and only last year did she stop playing tennis. That takes some guts tbf. God bless her

[Spanks]

RIP...she was not diagnosed 8 years go by the way..she has had liver problems growing up though...

[Hardcoar]

Pretty sad indeed. Just curious, why was she brave ? Has she done anything special in her life ?

Didn't you know already? Anyone who's famous and dies untimely is a bigger hero than Jerzy himself. Look at Nirvana... they made one decent album (with three fantastic songs, I'll have to admit) and now are more over-rated than f*cking Mozart himself.

People generally (clearly, from experience) have a tendency to hail mediocre performers as sanctified martyrs simply because they, you know... died!

"You glorify the past when the future dries up"
"We know the true death, the true way of all flesh... Everyone's dying, but girl you're not old yet"

That said, nothing against Ballin' Bally and her life or work. RIP IN PEACE.

[frugalgambler]

Tend to agree with you HC, but Baltacha seemed to a pretty good person. Pretty sad. She was a daughter of a pretty famous Soviet/Ukranian soccer player. I think he won silver in Euro'88 and also a European Cup with Dynamo Kiev.

[Hardcoar]

Tend to agree with you HC, but Baltacha seemed to a pretty good person. Pretty sad. She was a daughter of a pretty famous Soviet/Ukranian soccer player. I think he won silver in Euro'88 and also a European Cup with Dynamo Kiev.

I'm not saying anything against her in general at all. She just wasn't an exceptional tennis player or actual demi-god.

[frugalgambler]

Exceptional tennis players are only good for betting on them.

[Hardcoar]

True that... except as well as watching.

[frugalgambler]

Yeah that too. Just like great actors: good for watching bad for projecting their on-screen image onto their real-life personas.

[Hardcoar]

That's pretty cute!

[cryptocap]

very shad shnews