Agency–Jana Novotná ( 2 October 1968 – 19 November 2017) was a professional tennis player from the Czech Republic. She played a serve and volley game, an increasingly rare style of play among women during her career.
She won the women’s singles title at Wimbledon in 1998 and was runner-up in three previous Grand Slam tournaments. Novotná also won 12 Grand Slam women’s doubles titles, four Grand Slam mixed doubles titles, and three Olympic medals. She reached a career-high singles ranking of world No. 2 in 1997, and held the No. 1 ranking in doubles for 67 non-consecutive weeks.
Jana Novotná turned professional in February 1987. In the early years of her career, she was known primarily for her success as a doubles player. In the early 1990s, Novotná began to have success in singles once four-time Grand Slam singles champion Hana Mandlíková became her coach. Mandlíková would coach her for nine years. Previously she had been coached by Mike Estep.
Novotná retired from the professional tour in 1999. During her 14-year career, she won 100 titles (24 in singles and 76 in doubles). She was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2005.
From 2000 to 2002, Novotná was a commentator for Wimbledon for the BBC. From 2006 onwards, Novotná played the Ladies’ Invitation Doubles tournament at Wimbledon; winning it in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2014.In 2010, her partner was Martina Navratilova. Also in 2010, she helped Navratilova through her treatment for breast cancer.She played invitational doubles in the other Grand Slams as well and also did charity events and exhibitions. She continued to coach players, including Barbora Krejčíková.
Novotná resided in Florida until 2010 when she returned to her native Czech Republic, building a house in the village of Omice, near her hometown of Brno, where she lived with her partner, former tennis player Iwona Kuczyńska.She died of cancer at the age of 49 on 19 November 2017, surrounded by her family and friends.She chose to keep her diagnosis of cancer private, only telling her closest friends and relatives.Novotná became the first Grand Slam women’s singles champion of the Open Era to die.
