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SPORTS Tuesday 21 November 2017

Former Wimbledon champion

Jana Novotna dies at 49

By KAREL JANICEK While she finally captured and her 1998 triumph will
Associated Press the Grand Slam singles title live long in the memory,”
PRAGUE (AP) — Jana No- she longed for in 1998, she Wimbledon organizers the
votna, who won the hearts won over the Wimbledon All England Club said in
of the tennis world when crowd five years earlier af- tribute to Novotna. “The
she sobbed on the shoul- ter wasting a big lead in thoughts of all those at
der of a member of the the decisive set in a tough Wimbledon are with her
British royal family after a three-set loss to Steffi Graf. family and friends.”
heartbreaking loss in the Unable to hide her disap- Fellow Czech and four-time
Wimbledon final, has died pointment, Novotna cried Grand Slam champion
at the age of 49. on the shoulder of Britain’s Hana Mandlikova, who
The WTA announced No- Duchess of Kent at the prize coached Novotna for her
votna’s death on Monday, giving ceremony and was Wimbledon win, said: “It’s
saying she died Sunday in gently comforted by the hard to find words. Jana In this July 4, 1998 file photo, Jana Novotna, of the Czech
her native Czech Republic royal, who told her: “I know was a great girl and I’m Republic, displays the women’s singles trophy after her victory
following a long battle with you will win it one day, happy that she won Wim- over France’s Nathalie Tauziat in the final on Wimbledon’s
Centre Court.
cancer. don’t worry.” bledon after all. It’s so sad Associated Press
Novotna died “peacefully, Novotna ultimately had when someone so young and silver again in the would be terrible.”
surrounded by her family,” her moment five years later dies.” doubles and bronze in the Members of the current
the women’s tennis body when she beat Nathalie During a 14-year profes- singles in Atlanta in 1996. Czech Fed Cup team said
said. Her family confirmed Tauziat in straight sets to win sional career, Novotna She also won the Fed Cup Novotna “supported us in
her death to the Czech Re- Wimbledon. At the time, won 24 singles titles and with her country in 1988. the stands any time she
public’s CTK news agency. she was the oldest first-time reached a career-high No. Novotna was inducted into could be there. We’ll miss
Novotna won her only winner of a Grand Slam sin- 2 in the singles rankings in tennis’ Hall of Fame in 2005. her.”
Grand Slam singles title at gles title at age 29. 1997. She was a prolific and Even after retiring in 1999, “Jana was an inspiration
Wimbledon in 1998, even- There wear tears again top-ranked doubles player, Novotna was desperate to both on and off court to
tually triumphing after two from Novotna, this time of collecting 16 slam titles in stay involved in tennis and anyone who had the op-
losses in the final at the All joy, and the Duchess of doubles and mixed dou- became a commentator portunity to know her,”
England Lawn Tennis Club Kent was present again to bles. and coach. WTA chief executive Steve
in 1993 and 1997. She also congratulate her. She won three Olympic “I’m dependent on tennis,” Simon said. “Her star will
lost in the 1991 Australian “She was a true champion medals, silver in the doubles she said in an interview two always shine brightly in the
Open final. in all senses of the word, at the 1988 Seoul Games
years ago. “A day without it history of the WTA.”q
Dressel, Ledecky win athletes of year at Golden Goggles

By BETH HARRIS ships last summer in Hun- worlds. watching all of you,” he career.
AP Sports Writer gary. It was the first time in “My very first goal was to told the audience. The perseverance award
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Cae- 11 years that either Phelps make friends in the sport,” Dressel also won for male went to 32-year-old back-
leb Dressel and Katie or Ryan Lochte didn’t win Ledecky said. “I want to race of the year. He led all stroker Matt Grevers.
Ledecky won male and the top honor. thank all my friends in this the way to earn gold in the The 2012 Olympic cham-
female athlete of the year “I want to continue to learn room for being there for me 100-meter butterfly in Buda- pion in the 100 back just
honors at the Golden and progress,” Dressel said. and making me love this pest. missed earning a spot at
Goggle Awards on Sun- Ledecky won for the fifth sport.” Lilly King won for female last year’s Rio Games with
day night, recognizing the consecutive year. She re- Bryant tried to egg Phelps race of the year, notch- a third-place finish at the
year’s top performances ceived her trophy from a into reconsidering retire- ing a world record in the U.S. trials.
by USA Swimming. couple of bearded retir- ment. 100-breaststroke and finish- He bounced back in a big
Dressel joined Michael ees: Phelps and Los An- But Phelps was having ing nearly a second ahead way, winning four medals in
Phelps as the only swim- geles Lakers star Kobe Bry- none of it. of teammate Katie Meili. Budapest, including silver in
mers to win seven golds at ant. Ledecky earned five “I’d rather be sitting in the It was King’s first world title the 100 back and two relay
a single world champion- gold medals and a silver at stands during the next one and first world mark in her golds. q