Austria’s Daniela Klemenschits passed away on Wednesday after succumbing to a rare form of abdominal cancer.
Klemenschits, who was twenty-five years of age, was diagnosed with the disease in January 2007. Sandra Klemenschits, Daniela’s twin sister and doubles partner, also has the same type of cancer.
During her career, Daniela won twenty-three ITF doubles titles and reached a career doubles high of No. 95.
To help raise money for the twin’s costly medical expenses, the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour hosted an online auction in July 2007, which along with personal financial donations by players, totaled approximately $70,000 dollars.
Justine Henin, Amelie Mauresmo, Steffi Graf, Martina Hingis, Ana Ivanovic, Maria Sharapova, Nicole Vaidisova, and Samantha Stosur were among the players who donated autographed items for the auction.
Our prayers and deepest sympathies are with the Klemenschits family.
I am deeply saddened by this news, having read about the cancer last year and tried several Google-searches since. I pray that Sandra will be much luckier.
[...] they won twenty doubles titles. They were also members of the Austrian Fed Cup team in 2005. (via On the Baseline, Women Who Serve; photo via Fed [...]