SCOTTISH tennis star Elena Baltacha called time on her playing career today with immediate effect.
The former British No.1 turned 30 in August and, after a gruelling 16-year career, which was hampered at the age of 19 when she was diagnosed with the chronic liver condition primary
sclerosing cholangitis, she has finally decided to hang up her racket competitively and focus on a coaching role.
Baltacha also played in 39 Fed Cup ties over 12 years, while she was part of Team GB at last year's Olympic Games in London.
"It just feels it's the right time,"
said Baltacha.
"My body has taken such a bruising over the last 16 years and that's finally taken its toll.
"I have had some amazing experiences through playing tennis - some incredible highs and some very low lows - and I wouldn't change any of them.
"But now my mind and my body are telling me it's time to move on to a new phase of my life."
She added: "I still absolutely love tennis and I want to take that passion and put it into learning to be the
best coach I can be so that I can take all my experiences as a player and use that to help develop the next generation of British tennis players."
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