Tennis champ Jana Novotna dies aged 49
Former Wimbledon champion Jana Novotna has died at the age of 49, the onetime tennis star sadly passing away on Sunday while surrounded by friends and family.
A statement from the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) confirmed the passing of the former world number one in doubles and world number two in singles.
A statement read: “It is with deep sadness that the WTA announces the passing on Sunday, November 19, of Jana Novotna, the former WTA World No.1 doubles and No.2 singles champion. After a long battle with cancer, Jana died peacefully, surrounded by her family in her native Czech Republic, aged 49.”
Novotna famously won the Wimbledon women’s singles title in 1998 after being beaten by American Steffi Graf in the 1993 where she was consoled by the Duchess of Kent.
The Duchess reportedly told the tennis star “she would do it” and despite losing to Martina Hingis in 1997, Novotna would eventually win the elusive title a year later.
Our thoughts are with the family of this tennis icon.
Image credit: YouTube / Wimbledon