LONDON - Former British number one Elena Baltacha announced her retirement on Monday after struggling to recover from a series of injuries. Baltacha reached a career-high ranking of 49 in 2010 and won 11 singles titles during her career. But the Scot, whose Ukrainian father Sergei played football for Ipswich and St Johnstone, had problems with injury and illness for several years and decided to hang up her racquet after another frustrating campaign in 2013. She enjoyed wins over top 10 players Li Na and Francesca Schiavone, while her best Grand Slam performances were third round at the Australian Open in 2005 and 2010 and at Wimbledon in 2002. "It just feels it's the right time," Baltacha said. "My body has taken such a bruising over the last 16 years and that's finally taken its toll.”–AFP