Jana Novotna - Czech Tennis Champion

Career

Novotna turned professional in 1986. In the early years of her career, she was known primarily for her success as a doubles player. In the early-1990s, Novotna began to have success in singles once four-time Grand Slam singles champion Hana Mandlikova became her coach. Novotna was one of the top serve and volleyers of her time, a rarity in women's tennis.

Novotna reached her first Grand Slam singles final in 1991 at the Australian Open, where she lost to Monica Seles 5–7, 6–3, 6–1.

Two years later, Novotna reached her first singles final at Wimbledon, where she faced Steffi Graf. After losing a tight first set, Novotna took a 6–7, 6–1, 4–1, 40-15 lead.

With victory seemingly in her grasp, she lost her nerve and began missing easy shots, sometimes hitting the ball out by wide margins (including an infamous overhead smash that hit the back tarp). Graf took the next five games and the title. During the prize presentation ceremony, a distraught Novotna burst into tears and cried on the Duchess of Kent's shoulder. The Duchess comforted her by saying that she was sure Novotna would win the title one day. But at the time, many doubted that this would happen given how dramatically she had choked against Graf.

Olympic medal record

Women’s Tennis
Silver 1988 Seoul Doubles

Women’s Tennis
Silver 1996 Atlanta Doubles
Bronze 1996 Atlanta Singles

It took four years for Novotna to reach another Wimbledon final. In 1997, she faced Martina Hingis. Novotna won the first set. But she then succumbed to the Swiss teen's accurate passing shots and lost 2–6, 6–3, 6–3. However, Novotna won the 1997 WTA Tour Championships and finished the year ranked a career-high World No. 2 in singles.

Novotna's moment of Wimbledon glory finally arrived in 1998. After routing a young Venus Williams in a quarterfinal, Novotna avenged the previous year's loss by ousting Hingis in a semifinal and veteran Nathalie Tauziat in the final 6–4, 7–6.

She won 12 Grand Slam women's doubles titles (four at Wimbledon, three at the French Open, three at the U.S. Open, and two at the Australian Open) and 4 Grand Slam mixed doubles titles (two at the Australian Open, one at Wimbledon, and one at the U.S. Open). She was 11 times the year end top ranked doubles player.

Novotna was a member of the Czechoslovakian team that won the Fed Cup in 1988. At the Olympic Games, Novotna was a women's doubles silver medalist in 1988 and 1996 and a singles bronze medalist in 1996.

Novotna retired from the professional tour in 1999. During her 14-year career, she won 100 titles (24 in singles and 76 in doubles).

Novotna was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2005.

Grand Slam singles finals

Win (1)
Year Championship Opponent in Final Score in Final
1998 Wimbledon Nathalie Tauziat 6–4, 7–6

Runner-ups (3)
Year Championship Opponent in Final Score in Final
1991 Australian Open Monica Seles 5–7, 6–3, 6–1
1993 Wimbledon Steffi Graf 7–6, 1–6, 6–4
1997 Wimbledon Martina Hingis 2–6, 6–3, 6–3