Skip to main content

French Open: Britain's Elena Baltacha is happy to be back playing


  • Elena Baltacha: Relishing her opening round clash
  • Heather Watson: Takes on Stefanie Voegele from Switzerland
Heather Watson: Takes on Stefanie Voegele from Switzerland
2/2

The former British No 1 returns to action ten months after she thought she had played her final match.Elena Baltacha is delighted to be back in grand slam action and is relishing her opening round encounter against New Zealand's Marina Erakovic at the French Open.
Baltacha, who has been through more than her fair share of injury and illness troubles, had contemplated retirement after the Olympics.
But the 29-year-old, who is currently ranked 200th, decided that she missed the tennis lifestyle too much.
She made her competitive return at an ITF event in Alabama before turning out for Great Britain in their Fed Cup defeat to Argentina in April.

Out of love

Baltacha said: "I actually retired after the Olympics. I kind of kept it to myself but I knew I'd had enough. I was going through the motions.
"If you're not careful you find yourself getting into a grind and I just fell out of love with tennis, to be honest.
"But the things I really hated about it are the things I really missed. Packing the suitcase, going from week to week in different hotels, getting on another flight. It was really bizarre. I realised how much I love tennis.
"The biggest thing I missed was the one-on-one competition. That challenge, the 'come ons', that feeling when you win a match and the umpire says, 'Game, set, match, Miss Baltacha'. You can replace that but only if you're ready to move on."
Watson back
Meanwhile, Heather Watson also makes a return to action after recovering from glandular fever.
The last time the 21-year-old was at a tennis tournament was in Miami in March.
She begins her Roland Garros campaign against Swiss Stefanie Voegele, who she beat in the final round of qualifying here in 2011 and is excited by the challenge.
Watson said: "I'm happy to be back. When I was packing my stuff and getting ready to live out of a suitcase again, it was kind of a nice feeling. I put my tennis bag on my back and had a smile to myself. I'm excited definitely."

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Stoke end battling win at Watford

An own goal by goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes helped earn Stoke City a deserved win as 10-man Watford suffered a first home defeat since August. Gomes could do little as Charlie Adam's header from Xherdan Shaqiri's corner hit the base of the post before ricocheting off the Brazilian and rolling into the net. If there was a touch of fortune about the goal, Stoke were full value for their victory against sluggish opponents who missed out on the chance to climb to sixth in the Premier League table. Watford had defender Miguel Britos sent off in the closing stages for a second yellow card after Gomes had saved well from Bruno Martins Indi, while Stoke's club record £18.3m signing Giannelli Imbula also went close from 25 yards. Relive Sunday's Premier League action How Conte has kept his cool to revive Chelsea Why Palace players are letting Pardew down Petulant Watford There was controversy at the end of a scrappy game as Hornets boss Walter Mazzarri appeared t...
Post a Comment
Read more

Aguero score twice in Man City win

Sergio Aguero scored twice as Manchester City came back from a goal down to earn a hard-fought win at Burnley and claim back-to-back Premier League victories for the first time since September. The home side might have had a penalty before surprisingly taking lead when City defender Nicolas Otamendi could only head a clearance straight to Clarets midfielder Dean Marney, who volleyed in from 25 yards. City struggled for fluency but Aguero equalised when he poked in a shot at the far post after a corner was deflected into his path. The visitors controlled the game after the break and took the lead when a Fernandinho cross hit Aguero and went in after some sloppy Burnley defending. Clarets defender Michael Keane had a late header blocked by Aleksandar Kolarov and an overhead kick from Ashley Barnes was saved by City keeper Claudio Bravo but Burnley failed to prevent a third home loss in the top flight this season. Relive Burnley v Manchester City Follow the rest of Saturda...
Post a Comment
Read more

Everton defender Phil Jagielka out for six weeks

Jagielka suffered a cruciate ligament injury to his left knee in 2009 Everton boss David Moyes wants to sign a central defender in the January transfer window after losing Phil Jagielka for up to six weeks. Jagielka, 29, injured medial ligaments in his knee during Wednesday's 2-1 defeat by Bolton at Goodison Park. "To lose him [Jagielka] is a massive blow because he is an integral part of the defence and it leaves us short at centre-half," said Moyes. "We are looking but it will more than likely be in the loan market." England international Jagielka, who has made 19 Premier League starts this season, injured his left knee in 2009 and spent nearly a year on the sidelines. Continue reading the main story Leon Osman has a floating bone in his knee which we think will have to be taken out David Moyes Everton manager "Losing Jagielka is an incredibly big thing for us because the team have been very strong defensively," Moyes continued. ...
Post a Comment
Read more