'98 Wimbledon Champ Dies of Cancer at 49

Jana Novotna won 24 singles titles
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Nov 20, 2017 1:33 AM CST
Wimbledon Champion Jana Novotna Dies at 49
In this Sept. 6, 2007 file photo, Jana Novotna reacts during a match against Martina Navratilova of the United Sates at the US Open tennis tournament in New York.   (AP Photo/Ed Betz, File)

The Women's Tennis Association says 1998 Wimbledon champion Jana Novotna has died at the age of 49. The women's tennis body says Novotna died Sunday after a long battle with cancer, the AP reports. The WTA made the announcement on Monday. Her family confirmed her death to the Czech Republic's CTK news agency. During a 14-year professional career, Novotna won 24 singles titles and reached No. 2 in the singles rankings. She won Wimbledon in 1998 for her only singles Grand Slam, but also collected 12 doubles and four mixed doubles Grand Slam titles. Novotna was a three-time Olympic medalist and won the Fed Cup with Czech Republic in 1988. (More tennis stories.)

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