Wimbledon champion Jana Novotna dies aged 49

PRAGUE — Emotional tributes from across the world of tennis poured in for former Wimbledon champion Jana Novotna on Monday after she died at the age of 49 following a long battle with cancer.

Novotna won the Wimbledon title in 1998 beating Venus Williams and Martina Hingis on the way to her victory over France's Nathalie Tauziat in the final.

After a long battle with illness she died on Sunday in her native Czech Republic surrounded by her family, a WTA statement said.

She played in two other Wimbledon singles finals, losing to Steffi Graf in 1993 and to Hingis in 1997.

The picture of a distraught Novotna being comforted by the Duchess of Kent after losing the 1993 final when she had led 4-1 in the final set is one of the memorable Wimbledon moments.

Novotna, a runner-up to Monica Seles at the 1991Australian Open, also won four Wimbledon doubles titles with compatriot Helena Sukova in 1989 and 1990, with Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario in 1995 and with Hingis in 1998.

Wearing her distinctive headband, she won doubles titles at all four Grand Slam tournaments – triumphing 12 times in the women's doubles and on a further four occasions in the mixed event.

Czech-born American great Martina Navratilova led a number of players – both past and present -- in expressing deep sorrow at Novotna's death.

"The tennis world is so sad about the passing of Jana Novotna...I am gutted and beyond words- Jana was a true friend and an amazing woman..." tweeted Navratilova, a winner of 18 Grand Slam singles titles and a combined 41 doubles crowns.