(June 6, 2014) LTA – Marion Bartoli will share a court with fellow Wimbledon singles champion Andy Murray as part of the Rally For Bally on June 15th.
Bartoli and Murray, both of whom lifted Wimbledon trophies at The Championships in 2013, will join with Ross Hutchins at The Queen’s Club, which hosts one of three Rally For Bally fundraising matches all being held that day.
The Rally For Bally is part of a national fundraising effort being held in memory of former British number one Elena Baltacha, who died of liver cancer on 4th May this year. As well as a host of fundraising events all over the country, mixed doubles exhibition matches are being held on June 15th as part of the Aegon Championships at The Queen’s Club, Aegon Classic in Birmingham and the Aegon International in Eastbourne.
Bartoli, Murray and Hutchins – plus one or more other female players yet to be announced – will entertain the crowds at The Queen’s Club. Anne Keothavong, Tim Henman, Martina Navratilova and Jamie Murray will be in action in Birmingham, and Eastbourne will see Petra Kvitova, Greg Rusedski, Agnieszka Radwanska and Johnny Marray and others all take to the courts as tennis unites behind the Rally For Bally cause.
The Rally For Bally, via the Just Giving page, has already raised almost £45,000 in text and online donations. All money raised will be split between the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity (which successfully treated Ross Hutchins last year) and the Elena Baltacha Academy of Tennis, the charity attached to Elena’s tennis academy in Ipswich.
Marion Bartoli said: “Bally was my friend and I want to do everything I can to help the Rally For Bally. She was a lovely person and she always wanted to help other people, so everybody coming together like this is a really great tribute to her.”
“I’m looking forward to being back on a grass-court again, especially with Andy. I’m sure it will bring back lots of good memories of Wimbledon for both of us.”
A Rally For Bally JustGiving page has been set up, and 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.