Ipswich tennis star gets honorary degree

Britain’s number 1 women's tennis player Elena Baltacha has been given an Honorary Doctorate from University Campus Suffolk.

Britain’s former number 1 women's tennis player Elena Baltacha has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate from University Campus Suffolk (UCS) for her sporting achievements and helping to develop young talent.

The world number 135 received the award on Wednesday at the Ipswich Town Hall and Corn Exchange in recognition of her professional achievements in the sport as well as her commitment to developing young talent through the Ipswich-based Elena Baltacha Academy of Tennis which she opened in 2010.

Elena's career has seen her win ten International Tennis Federation single titles and four doubles titles. Until recently, she had held the ranking of the number 1 British female tennis player intermittently since 2002 and achieved a top ranking of the number 52 seed in the world in 2010.

She has played professional tennis for 12 years and earned a wild-card entry to represent Team GB at the London 2012 Olympics. She is a second generation Olympian, following in the footsteps of her mother and father who both qualified in their respective disciplines to represent the Soviet Union at the 1980 Olympics.

Elena playing in a second round singles match at Wimbledon 2012. Credit: Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP/Press Association Images

UCS is a partnership between the University of East Anglia and the University of Essex, working with Lowestoft College, Great Yarmouth College, Otley College, Suffolk New College and West Suffolk College.

Elena was introduced to the stage to collect her award by Paul Driscoll, UCS Lecturer in the School of Nursing and Midwifery.

Celebrating victory in the first round of the women's singles at Wimbledon 2012 Credit: Adam Davy/PA Wire/Press Association Images