FORMER Wimbledon champion Jana Novotna has died aged just 49 after a long battle battle with cancer.
The ex-world No1 passed away peacefully surrounded by family in her native Czech Republic yesterday.
Novotna won 24 WTA singles titles in 14 years on the professional women’s circuit, along with 76 doubles titles.
The Czech player had lost both 1993 and 1997 Wimbledon finals before finally winning in London beating Nathalie Tauziat in 1998.
Novotna won the hearts of tennis fans around the world when she burst into tears after losing to German great Steffi Graf in 1993 and was consoled by the Duchess of Kent.
WTA chief executive Steve Simon said: “Jana was an inspiration both on and off court to anyone who had the opportunity to know her.
Most read in sport
“Her star will always shine brightly in the history of the WTA. Our condolences and our thoughts are with Jana’s family.”
Novotna was renowned for her aggressive serve and volley game and achieved a career-high singles ranking of number two and was inducted into the Tennis Hallo of Fame in 2005.
Leave a comment