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Baltacha to lead Scots in Delhi


 

Originally published on: 18/08/10 11:04

Elena Baltacha will spearhead Scotland’s tennis team as the sport makes its senior debut at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi this October.

The world No.56 is joined in the squad by 19-year-old Jocelyn Rae and doubles specialists Colin Fleming, Jamie Murray and Mhairi Brown as Andy Murray skips the event.

Baltacha, 27, and 28-year-old doubles specialist Brown reached the final of the inaugural Commonwealth Youth Games in Edinburgh in 2000, losing to England.

“Elena clearly enjoyed her experience at the Commonwealth Youth Games,” said Team Scotland chef de mission Jon Doig. “We hope she will be similarly be in the mix for the medals in Delhi.”

World No.4 Andy Murray’s absence was widely expected, with the Dunblane native prioritising his own career over team competition in recent times. He is not alone – top Australians Lleyton Hewitt and Sam Stosur have also turned down the chance to play in Delhi, with Peter Luczak and Anastasia Rodionova set to don the green and gold.

Hewitt, Murray, Stosur and Baltacha were the only four players among the world’s top 100s eligible for the competition, leaving Baltacha as the tournament’s highest-ranked singles player.

With the Games coming to Scotland in 2014, officials north of the border are  thrilled to be able to field such high-profile representatives in all four events.

Michael Cavanagh, chairman of Commonwealth Games Scotland, added: “It is always exciting to welcome a new sport to Team Scotland and we are delighted to have the tennis players now confirmed.

“Given the extreme pressures of the professional circuit, we are delighted that players like Elena, Colin and Jamie have made the commitment to play for Scotland at the Commonwealth Games.”

The tennis competition will take place at the RK Khanna Tennis Stadium from October 4-10.

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Tim Farthing, Tennishead Editorial Director & Owner, has been a huge tennis fan his whole life. He's a tennis journalist and entrepreneur as well as playing tennis to a national standard. He also helps manage his local club and volunteers for his local tennis organisation. He's a specialist in content about the administration of professional tennis and tennis coaching for all levels.