Tennis world mourns loss of Jana Novotna

By Jonathan Scott Nov 21, 2017
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Tennis world mourns loss of Jana Novotna

ByJonathan Scott

Published Nov 21, 2017

Jana Novotna will forever be a Wimbledon champion, and hers will forever be one of the greatest redemption stories in this sport.

Her story's final chapter in this physical life ended on Sunday after a battle with cancer. She was just 49.

Novotna was a decorated champion not just in singles, which saw her garner 24 titles overall. The Czech claimed 12 major titles in women's doubles and four more in mixed doubles competition.

In a touching momentat Wimbledon in 1993 well before the age of social media, she let her emotions run freely and cried on the shoulder of the Duchess of Kent after losing the final in dramatic fashion to Steffi Graf. Five years later, she seized on her third-time's-the-charm opportunity, in 1998, to raise the Venus Rosewater Dish above her blonde dome.

Wimbledon itself honored the Czech star with a tribute video published a day after her November 19 passing, including footage of the Duchess, herself now 84, cheering her on:

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Players themselves, both retired and active, saluted the infectiously smiling Novotna, including many from the Czech Republic who were beautifully inspired by her play and her example:

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Many of Novotna's peers from her days on tour offered condolences and reminisces, among them:

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Another one-time Wimbledon champion who overcame much to take her title shared as well:

Some of the loveliest words are the simplest. Perhaps the inimitable Billie Jean King said it best, and plainly:

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The tennis world also lost another great champion, former No. 1 Pablo Segura. He passed away on Saturday at the age of 96.