Rally for Bally: Andy Murray leads Elena Baltacha tributes

Elena Baltacha spent 132 weeks as the British number one from 2009

The tennis world united to pay tribute to the late Elena Baltacha with exhibition matches across the UK.

The former British number one died from liver cancer in May, aged 30.

Grand Slam winners Andy Murray and Martina Navratilova were among the stars taking part in the Rally for Bally fundraiser on Sunday.

Navratilova, who fought breast cancer, said: "This match is a bitter-sweet experience. We love this sport so much - but life really stinks sometimes."

She added: "Out of tragedy comes something good and we'll make sure this isn't a one-off."

Judy Murray, Baltacha's Fed Cup captain and long-time friend, said: "Everybody remembers her spirit, maybe not everybody knew her quite so well as a person - how humble and kind and generous and funny she was."

Former British number one Anne Keothavong and Baltacha were friends and rivals from their junior days.

"We grew up together, we trained together as teenagers, we went on tours together," said Keothavong. "One of the special moments we both shared together was representing Britain in the Olympics.

"We got to play doubles together there and it was incredibly special to us to be part of that in London. It's one of many things I'll never forget."

The campaign has so far raised £56,000. The proceeds will be split between the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity and the Elena Baltacha Academy of Tennis.

The three mixed doubles exhibition matches followed a similar charity event at Queen's last year after British doubles player and Aegon Championships tournament director Ross Hutchins was diagnosed with cancer.

Wimbledon champion Murray and Hutchins, who returned to the tour in January, led teams at Queen's featuring two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka, five-time Grand Slam winner Martina Hingis, current British women's number one Heather Watson and former Wimbledon mixed doubles champion Jamie Murray.

Watson said: "We were all here today for Bally and I hope we have done her proud and raised a lot of money,"

Hutchins said: "It was for such an amazing cause with Bally looking down on us."

Navratilova, winner of 59 Grand Slams in singles and doubles, was playing at Edgbaston with former British number one Tim Henman, current British number three James Ward and another former British number one, Anne Keothavong.

Greg Rusedski, US Open finalist in 1997, was joined at Eastbourne by 2011 Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova, 2012 Wimbledon finalist Agnieszka Radwanska and Britain's doubles number one Colin Fleming.

Baltacha's husband and former coach Nino Severino watched on at Queen's during a light-hearted match in which the currently injured Laura Robson acted as on-court interviewer.

Children from Baltacha's academy in Ipswich took to the court to hit alongside the stars.

England number one Heather Watson in action during the Rally for Bally at Queen's

Five-time Grand Slam winner Martin Hingis played mixed doubles with Andy Murray at Queen's

Andy Murray also played doubles with his brother Jamie during the Rally for Bally at Queen's

Former British number one Tim Henman joined in the Rally for Bally at Edgbaston

Petra Kvitova played with Greg Rusedski in the Rally for Bally in Eastbourne

Victoria Azarenka wore a policeman's hat as she sat in the umpire's chair at Queen's