Novotna's Tears Are Part of Wimbledon Folklore
June 20, 1999 - 0:0
LONDON Jana Novotna arrived at Wimbledon last year still hurting from the memory of those despairing tears of defeat at the 1993 final. This time, the Czech will take just "beautiful memories" on to the center court on Tuesday when she begins the defense of the title she finally won last year. Last year's was an emotional triumph that gave her fulfillment after 13 years of battling for a crown that eluded her narrowly when she lost to Steffi Graf in three sets in 1993 after having a point for a 5-1 lead in the final set.
That nightmare defeat was when the tears flowed as she rested her head on the shoulder of the Duchess of Kent at the prizegiving ceremony, a memory she may finally have exorcised with her victory last year. "It is going to be nice to come back. It is something I have been looking forward to for a long time," she said recently.
"I definitely have some very beautiful memories from last year. It is going to be a very special moment and a whole new experience for me to walk through the Wimbledon gates as champion. It has changed my life enormously. "I know I have won the one that everyone wants because it's the most prestigious." A Sprained ankle sustained while playing doubles at the French Open three weeks ago cast doubts about her defense but Novotna pronounced herself recovered and this week played doubles at Eastbourne as the final preparation for Wimbledon. At 30, the Czech knows that any Wimbledon could be her last but has put no limit on how much longer she will play.
"There is no time frame about when I will retire. It could be the end of this year or the next one. I don't know how I will feel but when the moment comes I will stop and it could be the middle of the season," she said. She was given a stark reminder of her age when Swiss world number one Martina Hingis, who beat her in her second final in 1997, ditched her as a doubles partner because, hingis said, she was "too old and slow".
When she does depart, it could mean the end of serve-and-volley tennis in the women's game: Novotna seems to be the last of the dying breed of players who like to rush the net, especially on grass. (Reuter)
That nightmare defeat was when the tears flowed as she rested her head on the shoulder of the Duchess of Kent at the prizegiving ceremony, a memory she may finally have exorcised with her victory last year. "It is going to be nice to come back. It is something I have been looking forward to for a long time," she said recently.
"I definitely have some very beautiful memories from last year. It is going to be a very special moment and a whole new experience for me to walk through the Wimbledon gates as champion. It has changed my life enormously. "I know I have won the one that everyone wants because it's the most prestigious." A Sprained ankle sustained while playing doubles at the French Open three weeks ago cast doubts about her defense but Novotna pronounced herself recovered and this week played doubles at Eastbourne as the final preparation for Wimbledon. At 30, the Czech knows that any Wimbledon could be her last but has put no limit on how much longer she will play.
"There is no time frame about when I will retire. It could be the end of this year or the next one. I don't know how I will feel but when the moment comes I will stop and it could be the middle of the season," she said. She was given a stark reminder of her age when Swiss world number one Martina Hingis, who beat her in her second final in 1997, ditched her as a doubles partner because, hingis said, she was "too old and slow".
When she does depart, it could mean the end of serve-and-volley tennis in the women's game: Novotna seems to be the last of the dying breed of players who like to rush the net, especially on grass. (Reuter)