WHAT a difference a year makes just ask tennis ace Elena Baltacha.
The Paisley player was on the verge of hanging up her racquet 12 months ago as a string of injury problems left her languishing well down the world rankings.
But now she has regained both fitness and form and is storming her way up through the ladies pecking order.
And, after reaching the quarter-finals of the $75,000 ITF event in Toyota, Japan, Bally has now regained her spot as British Ladies number one.
As well as overtaking English rival Katie OBrien to claim the prestigious position four years after she last held it, she has also reached new heights in the WTA rankings, moving up to a career-high position of 85th in the world.
Its a dramatic turn around in fortunes for Bally, whose career took a dent in 2003 after she was sidelined by a liver illness.
The 26-year-old Buddie struggled to regain her best tennis after being plagued by the mystery viral infection for five years but now she is delighted to be back at the top of her game.
I value the British number one spot so much more this time because were all much better than we were. Theres a lot more value in it now, said Baltacha, who leads the way in the rankings, with OBrien and Anne Keothavong also both in the worlds top 100.
Its fantastic to be back as Britains number one and Im just over the moon. This is all thanks to my coach Nino Severino.
Its amazing to think that, this time last year, I was on the verge of retiring. I was at my lowest ebb.
It was Nino who talked me round and I cant thank him enough for the position Im in today.
Its been an incredible year and now Im looking to carry all my success into 2010.
After splitting from long-term coach Alan Jones last year, Baltacha, whose brother Sergei starred for St Mirren Football Club, bought in to the methods of Severino, a movement specialist, and she has been able to increase the volume of both practice and matches.
The result has been a steady rise up the rankings and a rekindled enthusiasm for the sport.
And, in an exclusive interview with Express Sports, Bally revealed the secret to her recent success.
She said: Its all down to lots of hard work. Nino has been amazing and designed a programme that gets the best out of me.
He brought in people, such as my fitness instructor, who understand me and what was needed to get the best out of me, both on the court and off it.
But it wouldnt work without lots and lots of hard work.
I have really had to put a shift in these past 12 months and it has paid off for me.
Baltacha will reap the dividends of that success come the new year when she will go straight into the main draw for the Australian Open the first time shes been spared the gruelling qualification tournament for an overseas Grand Slam event.
She added: I start back at the end of December when I fly out to New Zealand for the ASB Classic in Auckland. Its a big event for me as it is just two weeks before the Australian Open takes place.
I play in Auckland and then an Australian Open warm-up event in Tasmania and then the Australian Open itself.
I will be in the main draw for that, which is fantastic as its the first time Ive ever made it to the main draw of a slam.
I love playing in Australia and Ive done really well there. Ive qualified three times and was disappointed to get knocked out in the second round last year.
Im really excited about going down there this time and I hope to do well.
Baltachas busy year is finally over after her Far East adventure came to an end with a 6-4 2-6 6-1 defeat to Japanese battler Tomoko Yonemura in Toyota.
But she has revealed that she wont get much time to put her feet up now that she has returned to the UK.
Bally added: I hardly get any break at all. Im just back from Japan and I only get a couple of days off before I start training again. Theres no rest at all really.
Ill start a pre-season programme next week, which should be quite tough.
Auckland starts at the end of December, so I cant afford to take time off. If I took two weeks off now that would only leave me with one week to prepare and thats not long enough.
I wont moan about it though, because everything is going so well for me at the moment.
| 
