DAVIS Cup tennis star Ross Hutchins has paid tribute to Elena Baltacha as it was announced a fundraising 'Rally for Bally' event starring Andy Murray and other leading names from the sport is to go ahead.
The British player was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma in December 2012 and underwent six months of chemotherapy at the Royal Marsden Hospital.
The 29-year-old doubles specialist, who announced the news he was in remission last July, has stayed involved with tennis, organising the 'Rally for Bally' and helping out as an analyst for the Davis Cup team.
Hutchins, the tournament director of the Aegon Championships, paid tribute to Baltacha and told BBC Radio 5 Live: "I know she was battling hard against this disease in tennis and everything in her whole life with Nino, with her family. They're all fantastic people, and our thoughts and prayers go out to all of them.
"It's incredibly sad news but we'll remember her for a long time.
"I heard she was very ill and she was struggling for a while, but Elena was a fighter.
"Whether it comes down to Fed Cup matches, big matches, or with the disease, everyone knew she was a fighter and we always thought she could get through this.
"She'd got through many battles in the past, she'd been battling liver problems her whole life so we thought she'd get through this, but I did hear that it wasn't looking that positive at one point."
Baltacha's childhood friend Murray will be joined by Martina Navratilova and Tim Henman at next month's event in aid of the Elena Baltacha Academy of Tennis and the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.
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