World No.3 Agnieszka Radwanska and the 2011 Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova will take part in the Rally For Bally in Eastbourne on 15th June as support for the cause continues to grow throughout the tennis world.
Rally For Bally events are being held all around the country in memory of Elena Baltacha. All funds raised will be split between the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity and the Elena Baltacha Foundation, which supports the Elena Baltacha Academy of Tennis.
Radwanska and Kvitova will join Greg Rusedski and Jonny Marray for a mixed doubles match ahead of the Aegon International in Eastbourne. On the same day, Andy Murray and Ross Hutchins will take part in a mixed doubles match after the singles final at the Aegon Championships at The Queen’s Club, and Martina Navratilova, Anne Keothavong, Tim Henman and Jamie Murray will do the same at the Aegon Classic in Birmingham.
Radwanska said: “All of us in tennis are getting behind this because the Rally For Bally is going to be a very special tribute to her. I really wanted to be involved and show my support. Hopefully we're going to raise a lot of money for two great causes.”
Kvitova said: “I am so pleased to be able to take part in the Rally For Bally and play a part in helping to raise money in Bally's memory. All the WTA family has been hit hard by her loss so it will be great to come together and remember her on June 15.”
Aegon Championships Tournament Director, Ross Hutchins, said: “The response has been incredible. We have been inundated with people within tennis wanting to be part of this event and to help to raise money in memory of Elena, for her academy, and the on-going Rally Against Cancer. Grand Slam champions, finalists and World No.1's past and present have said they would like to partner Andy and I in the mixed doubles match we are holding at Queen's, which is fantastic. We can't guarantee which players will actually appear yet because some may have playing commitments elsewhere, but we know we will have a fabulous line-up of players.”
The LTA are also planning a 24-hour tennis marathon on 30th May which will see British players, past and present, as well as staff members take to the courts at the National Tennis Centre.
Donations can be made quickly and easily here: www.justgiving.com/RallyForBally. Or, text "EBAL60 £10" to 70070, to make, for example, a £10 donation via your mobile phone.
We would be very grateful if you are able to tweet the link above, using the hashtag #Rally4Bally
Any finals day tickets purchased for the Aegon Championships have an additional £10 charged and donated to the fund.