Former Wimbledon champion Jana Novotna dies at 49

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Former Wimbledon champion Jana Novotna has passed away at the age of 49, after a lengthy cancer battle. The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) announced the news on Monday morning in a Twitter post.

"It is with deep sadness that the WTA announces the passing on Sunday November 19 of Jana Novotna, aged 49," it said.

Novotna famously won the Wimbledon women's singles title in 1998, after being beaten by Steffi Graf in the 1993 final.

The Czech had been battling cancer and died surrounded by her family at her home.

Novotna was at the peak of her powers in the 1990s, winning 24 singles titles, but her success at All England Club was her only grand slam victory.

Jana Novotna of the Czech Republic with the women's singles trophy after her victory over France's Nathalie Tauziat in the final on Wimbledon's Centre Court, July 4, 1998. /VCG Photo

Having been beaten in by Martina Hingis in the 1997 final, Novotna exacted her revenge a year later by besting the Swiss in the semi-final and went on to defeat Frenchwoman Nathalie Tauziat to lift the crown.

It was a moment of redemption for the likeable Novotna, who was in tears after losing the 1993 final to Graf and was consoled by the Duchess of Kent at the trophy presentation.

She reached the final of the Australian Open once and the semi-finals of the French Open and US Open twice, while also enjoying prolific success in ladies' and mixed doubles, winning 16 grand slam titles.