Jana_Novotná
Jana Novotná
Jana Novotna (Jana Novotná) (b. October 2, 1968 in Brno, Czechoslovakia) is a former professional tennis player from the Czech Republic. She is best remembered for winning the women's singles title at Wimbledon in 1998 and for crying on the shoulder of the Duchess of Kent after losing the Wimbledon singles final in 1993. Novotna also won 12 Grand Slam women's doubles titles and 4 Grand Slam mixed doubles titles.
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.
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 defeating a young Venus Williams in a close 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 |
Grand Slam women's doubles finals
Wins (12)
| Year | Championship | Partnering | Opponents in Final | Score in Final |
| 1989 | Wimbledon | Helena Sukova | Larisa Neiland Natasha Zvereva | 6–1, 6–2 |
| 1990 | Australian Open | Helena Sukova | Patty Fendick Mary Joe Fernandez | 7–6, 7–6 |
| 1990 | French Open | Helena Sukova | Larisa Neiland Natasha Zvereva | 6–4, 7–5 |
| 1990 | Wimbledon (2) | Helena Sukova | Kathy Jordan Elizabeth Smylie | 6–3, 6–4 |
| 1991 | French Open (2) | Gigi Fernandez | Larisa Neiland Natalia Zvereva | 6–4, 6–0 |
| 1994 | U.S. Open | Arantxa Sanchez Vicario | Katerina Maleeva Robin White | 6–3, 6–3 |
| 1995 | Australian Open (2) | Arantxa Sanchez Vicario | Gigi Fernandez Natalia Zvereva | 6–3, 6–7, 6–4 |
| 1995 | Wimbledon (3) | Arantxa Sanchez Vicario | Gigi Fernandez Natalia Zvereva | 5–7, 7–5, 6–4 |
| 1997 | U.S. Open (2) | Lindsay Davenport | Gigi Fernandez Natalia Zvereva | 6–3, 6–4 |
| 1998 | French Open (3) | Martina Hingis | Lindsay Davenport Natalia Zvereva | 6–1, 7–6 |
| 1998 | Wimbledon (4) | Martina Hingis | Lindsay Davenport Natalia Zvereva | 6–3, 3–6, 8–6 |
| 1998 | U.S. Open (3) | Martina Hingis | Lindsay Davenport Natalia Zvereva | 6–3, 6–3 |
Runner-ups (11)
| Year | Championship | Partnering | Opponents in Final | Score in Final |
| 1990 | U.S. Open | Helena Sukova | Gigi Fernandez Martina Navratilova | 6–2, 6–4 |
| 1991 | Australian Open | Gigi Fernandez | Patty Fendick Mary Joe Fernandez | 7–6, 6–1 |
| 1991 | Wimbledon | Gigi Fernandez | Larisa Neiland Natasha Zvereva | 6–4, 3–6, 6–4 |
| 1991 | U.S. Open (3) | Larisa Neiland | Pam Shriver Natasha Zvereva | 6–4, 4–6, 7–6 |
| 1992 | Wimbledon (2) | Larisa Neiland | Gigi Fernandez Natasha Zvereva | 6–4, 6–1 |
| 1992 | U.S. Open (3) | Larisa Neiland | Gigi Fernandez Natasha Zvereva | 7–6, 6–1 |
| 1993 | French Open | Larisa Neiland | Gigi Fernandez Natasha Zvereva | 6–3, 7–5 |
| 1993 | Wimbledon (3) | Larisa Neiland | Gigi Fernandez Natasha Zvereva | 6–4, 6–7, 6–4 |
| 1994 | French Open (2) | Arantxa Sanchez Vicario | Gigi Fernandez Natasha Zvereva | 6–7, 6–4, 7–5 |
| 1994 | Wimbledon (4) | Arantxa Sanchez Vicario | Gigi Fernandez Natasha Zvereva | 6–4, 6–1 |
| 1996 | U.S. Open (4) | Arantxa Sanchez Vicario | Gigi Fernandez Natasha Zvereva | 1–6, 6–1, 6–4 |
Grand Slam singles performance timeline
| Tournament | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | Career SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Open | NH | A | 1R | 3R | 3R | F | 4R | 2R | QF | 4R | A | A | A | 3R | 0 / 9 |
| French Open | 1R | 3R | 1R | QF | SF | QF | 4R | QF | 1R | 3R | SF | 3R | QF | 4R | 0 / 14 |
| Wimbledon | 1R | 4R | 2R | 4R | QF | 2R | 3R | F | QF | SF | QF | F | W | QF | 1 / 14 |
| U.S. Open | A | 4R | 1R | 2R | QF | 4R | 1R | 4R | SF | QF | QF | QF | SF | 3R | 0 / 13 |
| SR | 0 / 2 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 3 | 1 / 3 | 0 / 4 | 1 / 50 |
NH = tournament not held.
A = did not participate in the tournament.
SR = the ratio of the number of Grand Slam singles tournaments won to the number of those tournaments played.
Titles
Singles
| Legend |
| Grand Slam (1) |
| WTA Championships (1) |
| Tier I (2) |
| Tier II (11) |
| Tier III (5) |
| Tier IV & V (4) |
| ITF Titles (2) |
| No. | Date | Tournament Name | Location | Surface | Opponent in Final | Score in Final |
| 1. | January 3, 1986 | ITF | Chicago, U.S. | Hard (I) | Kathy Hofer | 6–4, 7–5 |
| 2. | April 18, 1986 | ITF | Monviso, Italy | Clay | Federica Bonsignori | 7–6, 6–2 |
| 3. | December 4, 1988 | Danone Southern Cross Classic | Adelaide, Australia | Hard | Jana Pospisilova | 7–5, 6–4 |
| 4. | May 28, 1989 | Internationaux de Strasbourg | Strasbourg, France | Clay | Patricia Tarabini | 6–1, 6–2 |
| 5. | August 12, 1990 | Virginia Slims of Albuquerque | Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S. | Hard | Laura Arraya | 6–4, 6–4 |
| 6. | January 13, 1991 | Holden New South Wales Open | Sydney, Australia | Hard | Arantxa Sanchez Vicario | 6–4, 6–2 |
| 7. | February 24, 1991 | Virginia Slims of Oklahoma | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S. | Hard (I) | Anne Smith | 3–6, 6–3, 6–2 |
| 8. | February 14, 1993 | World Ladies in Osaka | Osaka, Japan | Carpet (I) | Kimiko Date | 6–3, 6–2 |
| 9. | October 24, 1993 | Autoglass Classic (1) | Brighton, United Kingdom | Carpet (I) | Anke Huber | 6–2, 6–4 |
| 10. | October 2, 1994 | International Grand Prix (1) | Leipzig, Germany | Carpet (I) | Mary Pierce | 7–5, 6–1 |
| 11. | October 23, 1994 | Brighton International (2) | Brighton, United Kingdom | Carpet (I) | Helena Sukova | 6–7(4), 6–3, 6–4 |
| 12. | October 30, 1994 | Nokia Grand Prix | Essen, Germany | Carpet (I) | Iva Majoli | 6–2, 6–4 |
| 13. | February 26, 1995 | EA-Generali Open (1) | Linz, Austria | Carpet (I) | Barbara Rittner | 6–7(6), 6–3, 6–4 |
| 14. | May 26, 1996 | Open Paginas Amarillas (1) | Madrid, Spain | Clay | Magdalena Maleeva | 4–6,6–4, 6–3 |
| 15. | October 20, 1996 | European Indoors | Zürich, Switzerland | Carpet (I) | Martina Hingis | 6–2, 6–2 |
| 16. | November 3, 1996 | Ameritech Cup | Chicago, U.S. | Carpet (I) | Jennifer Capriati | 6–4, 3–6, 6–1 |
| 17. | November 17, 1996 | Advanta Championships | Philadelphia, U.S. | Carpet (I) | Steffi Graf | 6–4, retired |
| 18. | May 25, 1997 | Open Paginas Amarillas (2) | Madrid, Spain | Clay | Monica Seles | 7–5, 6–1 |
| 19. | September 28, 1997 | Sparkassen Cup International Grand Prix (2) | Leipzig, Germany | Carpet (I) | Amanda Coetzer | 6–2, 4–6, 6–3 |
| 20. | November 2, 1997 | Kremlin Cup | Moscow, Russia | Carpet (I) | Ai Sugiyama | 6–3, 6–4 |
| 21. | November 23, 1997 | Chase Championships | New York City | Carpet (I) | Mary Pierce | 7–6(4), 6–2, 6–3 |
| 22. | March 1, 1998 | EA-Generali Austrian Open (2) | Linz, Austria | Hard (I) | Dominique Van Roost | 6–1, 7–6(2) |
| 23. | June 21, 1998 | Direct Line Insurance Championships | Eastbourne, United Kingdom | Grass | Arantxa Sanchez Vicario | 6–1, 7–5 |
| 24. | July 5, 1998 | Wimbledon | London | Grass | Nathalie Tauziat | 6–4, 7–6(2) |
| 25. | July 12, 1998 | Skoda Czech Open | Prague | Clay | Sandrine Testud | 6–3, 6–0 |
| 26. | February 21, 1999 | Faber Grand Prix | Hannover, Germany | Carpet (I) | Venus Williams | 6–4, 6–4 |
Doubles (76)
- 1987 - Hamburg (w/Kohde-Kilsch), Strasbourg (w/Suire), San Diego (w/Suire)
- 1988 - Oklahoma City (w/Suire), Rome (w/Suire), Hamburg (w/Scheuer-Larsen), Canadian Open (w/Sukova), Mahwah (w/Sukova)
- 1989 - Wimbledon (w/Sukova), Miami (w/Sukova), Boca Raton (w/Sukova), Brisbane (w/Sukova), Barcelona (w/Scheuer-Larsen), European Indoors (w/Sukova)
- 1990 - Australian Open (w/Sukova), French Open (w/Sukova), Wimbledon (w/Sukova), Miami (w/Sukova), Brisbane (w/Sukova), Sydney (w/Sukova), Indian Wells (w/Sukova), Boca Raton (w/Sukova), Los Angeles (w/G. Fernandez)
- 1991 - French Open (w/G. Fernandez), Brisbane (w/G. Fernandez), Chicago (w/G. Fernandez), Hamburg (w/Neiland), Washington, DC (w/Neiland), European Indoors (w/A. Strnadova),Filderstadt (w/Navratilova), Philadelphia (w/Neiland)
- 1992 - Brisbane (w/Neiland), Light ‘n Lively (w/Neiland), Berlin (w/Neiland), Eastbourne (w/Neiland), San Diego (w/Neiland), Leipzig (w/Neiland), Brighton (w/Neiland)
- 1993 - Miami (w/Neiland), Osaka (w/Neiland), Paris Indoors (w/A. Strnadova), Rome (w/Sanchez-Vicario), Canadian Open (w/Neiland)
- 1994 - US Open (w/Sanchez-Vicario), Delray Beach (w/Sanchez-Vicario), Light ’n Lively Doubles (w/Sanchez-Vicario), Hamburg (w/Sanchez-Vicario), San Diego (w/Sanchez-Vicario)
- 1995 - Linz - Australian Open (w/Sanchez-Vicario), Wimbledon (w/Sanchez-Vicario), WTA Tour Championships (w/Sanchez-Vicario), Sydney (w/Davenport), Miami (w/Sanchez-Vicario), Delray Beach (w/MJ Fernandez), Eastbourne (w/Sanchez-Vicario)
- 1996 - Paris Indoors (w/Boogert), Miami (w/Sanchez-Vicario), Hilton Head (w/Sanchez-Vicario), Madrid (w/Sanchez-Vicario), Eastbourne (w/Sanchez-Vicario), Filderstadt (w/Arendt)
- 1997 - US Open (w/Davenport), Season-Ending Championships (w/Davenport), Paris Indoors (w/Hingis), Amelia Island (w/Davenport), Berlin (w/Davenport), Leipzig (w/Hingis)
- 1998 - French Open (w/Hingis), Wimbledon (w/Hingis), US Open (w/Hingis), Miami (w/Hingis), Eastbourne (w/de Swardt), Canadian Open (w/Hingis)
- 1999 - Miami (w/Hingis), Hilton Head (w/Likhovtseva), Canadian Open (w/Pierce)
External links
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Last updated on Thursday October 09, 2008 at 00:45:07 PDT (GMT -0700)
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