Sporting Witness
Sporting Witness
Jana Novotna - Wimbledon Heroine
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November 25, 2017
9 minutes
Available for over a year
The world of tennis is mourning the death of the popular Czech player, Jana Novotna, at the age of 49. In 1993, Novotna threw away a huge lead in the women's final at Wimbledon but captured the hearts of tennis fans by breaking down in tears on the shoulder of the Duchess of Kent, the tournament's patron. Five years later, Novotna was back on Centre Court, and this time she won. In 2015, she told her story to Kirsty McQuire.
PHOTO: The Duchess of Kent consoles Jana Novotna after her 1993 defeat (Getty Images)