NOTTINGHAM, Great Britain - Four girls from the Elena Baltacha Academy had an unforgettable time last week at the Nature Valley Open in Nottingham, where they were treated to a behind the scenes tour.

The Elena Baltacha Foundation honors the memory of the late former British No.1 player by finding a way for all children, rich or poor, to play tennis.

Created in 2014 in memory of Elena “Bally” Baltacha, who retired from tennis in 2012 and passed away two years later after losing her battle with cancer, Bally’s dream of helping make tennis accessible to all children lives on in in the foundation’s work, as well as the Elena Baltacha Academy of Tennis in her hometown of Ipswich.

Read more: Elena Baltacha Foundation celebrates successful 2017

In Nottingham, the Academy girls had a chance to visit the player lounge - where they met Heather Watson - and were treated to a behind the scenes tour from WTA Tournament Supervisor Donna Kelso, who told them a little about life on the road.

Later on Nino Severino, Bally’s coach, husband and foundation chairman, introduced the girls to Johanna Konta, Dan Evans and other British stars, and they got to watch the Nottingham finals in style.

WTA Charities is the WTA's global philanthropic organization dedicated to making a positive impact across the globe. Our mission is to be a social responsibility vehicle built on the WTA's values to empower and provide for a better future. We're dedicated to combining, strengthening and enhancing the community and charitable efforts of the WTA through its members (players, alumnae and tournaments), along with our partners.

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