Former Wimbledon champion Jana Novotna dies at 49 after 'long battle with cancer'

Jana Novotna, the 1998 Wimbledon ladies' singles champion, has died after a long battle with cancer, the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) have announced.

Aged 49, Novotna passed away on Sunday [19 November] surrounded by family in her Czech Republic homeland.

Best known for winning her only grand slam singles title at SW19 by beating Nathalie Tauziat, Novotna also enjoyed a stellar doubles career claiming 16 major titles, as well as the Fed Cup and Hopman Cup while representing her country.

She also twice medalled at the Olympic Games, winning silver in the women's doubles, while representing Czechoslovakia, at Seoul 1988 and at Atlanta 1996, where she also won bronze in the singles.

After retiring in 1999, Novotna commentated at Wimbledon for BBC television between 2000 and 2002. She also played invitational doubles at a handful of grand slams with Martina Navratilova, but her public appearances had been noticeably reduced in recent years.

"Jana was an inspiration both on and off court to anyone who had the opportunity to know her," said WTA chief executive Steve Simon. "Her star will always shine brightly in the history of the WTA. Our condolences and our thoughts are with Jana's family."