Tennis: Title win moves Elena Baltacha up to No 70 in the world

ELENA Baltacha was celebrating yesterday after moving up to No 70 in the world, her highest ranking to date.

The 26-year-old Scot, who reached the third round of the Australian Open last month, made the move after winning the ITF Dow Corning Classic in Michigan on Sunday. She came from a set down to beat Czech top seed Lucie Hradecka, losing the first set 7-5 before fighting back to take the second 6-2 and the deciding set 6-3.

Baltacha will now take part in this week's WTA event in Memphis and said: "It's amazing. I've never won a 100k event before, and to beat such a good player in the final as well.

"We were looking at the 75 spot (in the rankings) and after the quarters we were like, 'Okay, we've done it.' In the semis you can relax and enjoy it.

"And then I thought, 'I want to win the title.' To win the title, to beat Hradecka and to make top 75 is just so special."