Ex-Wimbledon Champion Jana Novotna Dies Of Cancer At 49

Jana Novotna, a former Wimbledon champion, died in her native Czech Republic on Sunday at age 49.

Tennis player Jana Novotna Death news

Novotna — who famously cried on the Duchess of Kent’s shoulder after losing a Wimbledon singles final in 1993 — had cancer. She won Wimbledon in 1998.

Throughout her 12-year career, she earned 17 Grand Slam titles, 16 of them in doubles and mixed doubles, in addition to three Olympic medals.

Novotna fell to Steffi Graf 7-6 (8-6), 1-6, 6-4 in the finals at London’s All England Club after leading 4-1 in the last set. She defeated France’s Nathalie Tauziat five years later for the Wimbledon trophy.

“Jana was an inspiration both on and off the court to anyone who had the opportunity to know her,” said Steve Simon, the World Tennis Association’s chief executive. “Her star will always shine brightly in the history of the W.T.A.”

Novotna retired from professional tennis in 1999 and was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2005.

Here are more tributes to the Czech right-hander:

3 Sep 1999: Jana Novotna of Czech Republic returns the ball during a match in the US Open at the USTA National Tennis Courts in Flushing Meadows, New York. Mandatory Credit: Al Bello /Allsport