Tennis champ Jana Novotna dies aged 49
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.”</p>
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<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>Our thoughts are with the family of this tennis icon.</p>
<p><em>Image credit: YouTube / Wimbledon</em></p>
