Saying goodbye again - Page 2© Michael Cecilio
Page 2
Oct 15, 1999
Considered to be one of the greatest grasscourt players of all time along with Steffi Graf and Martina Navratilova, it is interesting to note that in her career, Jana has only ever won two grasscourt titles! Furthermore, and quite surprisingly, it was only last year when she won her first grasscourt title. Much of the reason for this lies in the fact that there are only four grasscourt tournaments played in a single season. However, much of it is also in part due to the frailty of her psyche, which would not allow her to step up from the runner's-up trophy in a multitude of grasscourt tournament finals. Winning only two grasscourt titles is perhaps an injustice to Jana's career as her game is absolutely tailor-made for grass. She possesses a powerful serve which easily skids through the surface, a penetrating slice backhand which stays incredibly low, and crisp, accurate volleys which are difficult for her opponents to return or make the passing shot winner from.
Hopefully, she will be remembered more for her exploits in Wimbledon 1998. Twice a Wimbledon finalist, never the champion, it was the Duchess, with whom she had struck up a long-lasting friendship, who convinced her in her second Wimby final in 1997 that she would be lucky the third time around. Jana was hopeful but unbelieving. In retrospect, Jana's 1998 Wimbledon draw was an incredibly tough assignment, but one she managed to get through in the short space of a fortnight. She faced the always dangerous Steffi Graf clone in Irina Spirlea in the round of 16. She progressed to the quarter finals to find a determined and feisty Venus Williams who was ready to take her Grand Slam campaign to a higher level. Leading 4-0 in the first set, Venus Williams ultimately self-destructed at the hands of questionable line calls, and subsequent emotional outbursts, while Jana Novotna remained the cool one under pressure, playing her all-court game with the poise of a woman of her years. However, the proof was in the pudding in the semi finals against top seed, world #1 and defending champion Martina Hingis. It was Hingis who got the better of Novotna in the previous year's final, where Novotna also let a sizeable lead of 6-2 2-0 slip away. It was not going to happen this time around. Displaying the reason why she had long been touted to win Wimbledon, Jana once again produced her best by routing the teen in straight sets.
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