This is Elena Baltacha as you have never seen her before.

Organisers of the Eastbourne tournament have transformed her into the pin-up girl of British tennis.

Stunning pictures of a glamorous-looking Baltacha will be quite an eyeopener to long-serving spectators at the annual Devonshire Park showpiece.

They are more used to seeing her in specs and in feisty mode on court.

The photo shoot with tournament ambassador Beltacha was arranged by PR agency Capitalize on behalf of sponsors Hastings Direct in the hope of appealing to a younger tennis audience.

Baltacha, 22, the injured British No. 2, revealed: "I really enjoyed it. I had such a good time, it was something different.

"The shots weren't just about me in tennis gear. They try to show that I do have a life outside tennis.

"I have a kind of split personality. When I am on court everyone thinks 'Oh my God, she's so aggressive, fists pumping in your face and she's all over the place'.

"Off the court I am just so casual and relaxed, not bothered or fazed by anything at all."

Ben Faber, from Capitalize, said: "We have brought Elena on this year to try and appeal to a slightly younger audience, as well as the core visitors to the event, and it has been very successful with a lot of people extremely interested to hear from her and about her career."

Baltacha, her promising career riddled by injury setbacks and an hereditary liver disease, has been ruled out of both the Eastbourne event and Wimbledon following surgery 11 days ago on a long-term back problem.

Although disappointed not to be playing, she is relieved to be on the south coast this week fulfilling her role as joint ambassador with Virginia Wade after going stir crazy at home in Enfield since the operation.

"I can't wait, I've been so bored watching day time TV," she said.

"When I took six months off with my liver I could still do things like go to London. Now I can't drive and it's really frustrating for me.

"But it comes with the job. In whatever sport you are in you are going to have operations and bad injuries.

"I'm improving. It's just a small blip. I cannot wait to get back on court.

"I'm not meant to be on court for six to eight weeks. It will take two to three months and hopefully I'll be back in January, February next year."

The goal for Baltacha, former British No. 1, when she does return is to make the top 100.

Meanwhile, she warns of a long wait for the emergence of a female British tennis star. There is little danger of the new car on offer to a home player from LTA sponsors Kia Motors in conjunction with Hastings Direct leaving the showroom.

The likes of current No. 1 Anne Keothavong and third-ranked Katie O'Brien have to reach the quarter-finals at Eastbourne or the fourth round of Wimbledon or be in the world's top 100 by the end of the season.

Domestic success is unthinkable this week, given the start-studded field that has assembled.

Baltacha, who made a third round appearances at Wimbledon in 2002 and the Australian Open in 2005, said: "It's such a strong line-up that who ever gets a wild card there are not going to be any easy matches.

"They are going to have to be at their best to even get near these top players.

"You've got Ann and Katie and they have been around for a while now. To be honest our next big thing will probably have to wait for a few years, somebody from the youngsters about ten or 12-years-old. I think they are the next big talents coming through."

Plenty of big talents are on parade this week, headed by reigning champion and world No. 2 Kim Clijsters.

She has for illustrious company fellow Belgian Justine Henin-Hardenne, fresh from her French Open triumph, plus world No. 1 Amelie Mauresmo. Baltacha said: "It's unbelievable and it's fantastic for Hastings Direct. The players love the tournament and want to come back.

"It's such a tough line-up. It's looking favourable for Kim Clijsters. She won it last year and she's very good on grass but Justine is fantastic. Somebody is sure to cause a surprise as well."

With the World Cup dominating the sporting agenda, it comes as something of a surprise that Baltacha is not football crazy.

Her father Sergei, now a coach at Charlton's Academy, played in the 1982 finals in Spain for the former Soviet Union. He spent much of his career in England with Ipswich and in Scotland.

"I'm not a great footie fan but I'm supporting England, of course, not Ukraine," Baltacha said. "I don't think that would go down too well!"