RIP Wimbledon winner Jana Novotna, 49

[Songbird]

Cancer. 49.

Surprised this went by quietly here.

Jana Novotna, the Czech tennis star who cried on the Duchess of Kent’s shoulder after losing a Wimbledon singles final in 1993 and then triumphed at the same tournament five years later, died on Sunday in the Czech Republic. She was 49.

The Women’s Tennis Association confirmed her death in a statement, which did not specify where in her native country she died. She had cancer.

Novotna won 17 Grand Slam titles over her career, 16 of them in doubles and mixed doubles, as well as three Olympic medals. But it was her singles career that came to define her.

Jana Novotna, Czech Winner of Wimbledon, Dies at 49

 

[Donny in his element]

Know the name; never would have guessed she was that old.

Still, way too young. RIP.

 

[Gator]

Died the same day, and announced around the same time, as Terry Glenn. Got lost in the shuffle. Really was in her prime before I became a big tennis fan, but it’s hard to believe one GS title — and never a ranking of No. 1 — gets you into the Hall of Fame.

 

[Songbird]

1 GS singles title.

17 overall.

 

[The Big Ragu]

As that story said, when she lost Wimbledon to Steffi Graf in 1993, she cried on the shoulder of the Duchess of Kent during the award ceremony. It was one of the most human moments you'll ever see. She was a really good player. Athletic as anything. I heard the news of her death in the car yesterday, and even though I never felt particularly attached to her as a player, it hit me hard. I really felt like crying.