A champion who refused to be defined by final loss
THE Centre Court had never seen anything like i t — a beaten finalist weeping on the shoulder of a member of Britain’s royal family, who threw etiquette to the wind by comforting the vanquished player.
Thus did the world take Jana Novotna to its heart in 1993, the aftermath of the Czech’s collapse against Steffi Graf providing one of Wimbledon’s most iconic images.
Novotna, who died yesterday at 49 after battling cancer, became synonymous with the dreaded ‘choke’ across all sports, let alone tennis, although her career was to have a happy ending.
The Duchess of Kent’s words on that emotional afternoon — ‘One day you will do it, I know you will’ — turned out to be prophetic, for five years later Novotna became champion by winning her third final at what was then considered the advanced age of 29.
Tributes poured in yesterday from around the tennis world, many along the lines of that from Chris Evert, who described Novotna’s passing as ‘a devastating loss to those of us who shared a deep friendship with her, a woman with integrity and honour’.
A generally private person, blessed with a smile that was warm and mischievous at the same time, the extent of Novotna’s illness was not common knowledge within the game.
It was to her great credit that she did not let the famous defeat by Graf define her. She had led the German 4-1 and 4030 in the deciding set when her nerve deserted her after a double fault, with Graf winning the last five games.
Novotna was to later reflect: ‘I don’t think I’m a choker but I’ve got a label on my back which says, ‘‘At the most important point in the match, Jana will choke’’. The label is almost impossible to get rid of. I could win three straight tournaments and people would still say, ‘‘Yes, she can play well, but remember the Wimbledon when she choked’’.’
And it should be emphasised that Novotna ended up with 100 professional tennis titles.
She was a fine singles player but a truly great doubles exponent, winning 12 Grand Slam doubles titles and four mixed doubles to add to a solitary solo triumph at Wimbledon, which propelled her to a career-best ranking of No 2. Coached by Grand Slam winner and compatriot Hana Mandlikova, in 1997 she reached the final again, only to lose in three sets to Martina Hingis.
The following year she opened her draw up by beating Venus Williams in the quarters. The Duchess of Kent was on hand to present the trophy and declare, ‘I’m so proud of you,’ after Novotna defeated the overmatched French player Nathalie Tauziat in the final.
Former British No 1 Jo Durie yesterday recalled how difficult it was to face her old school volleying style, which on grass was backed up with a highly effective sliced backhand.
‘She had such quick hands at the net and her movement was so sharp she could rush you into making mistakes, she was everywhere,’ said Durie. ‘She had beautiful hands and feel of the type that you simply can’t coach.
‘While she was a fierce competitor there was also a slight fragility about her. Away from the court she was friendly and softly- spoken with a good sense of humour, a very nice person.’
Fulfilled by her 1998 triumph, Novotna retired the following year.
She attended the inaugural Laver Cup in Prague in mid-September, but this year had been absent from some of the senior Grand Slam events she usually attends. She died with her family by her side at her home in the Czech Republic.