Czechs Shocked by Death of Tennis Star and Former Wimbledon Champion Jana Novotna

Tennis player Jana Novotná, a former Wimbledon champion, died Sunday at the age of 49 after a long battle with cancer. The tennis player died peacefully at her home in the Czech Republic surrounded by loved ones.

Jana beat Nathalie Tauziat in 1998, to become the oldest first-time Grand Slam champion in the Open era.

She also won all four Grand Slams in doubles competition.

Her first was at Wimbledon in 1989 before triumphing again in 1990, 1995 and 1998, the year of her singles’ success.

She also won the Australian Open doubles crown twice, as well as a hat-trick of French Open and US Open doubles titles.