‘Don’t Want to Keep Crying’ – When Martina Navratilova Paid a Tearful Tribute to 47-Year-Old Tennis Legend Who Succumbed to Cancer

The year 1987 was when Jana Novotna, a tennis player from the Czech Republic, officially went professional and began competing for Czechoslovakia. Prior to her retirement in 1999, she shared the court occasionally with fellow tennis great, Martina Navratilova.

Due to the inevitable development of her cancer, she said her final goodbyes to the world in 2017. But luckily, when she was alive, Novotna could compete in a few invitation tournaments, including one with the legendary Navratilova. Navratilova once talked about the demise of her friend Novotna and her support during tough times.

Martina Navratilova once paid a fitting tribute in remembrance of Jana Novotna

The 18- time Grand Slam champion Martina Navratilova once addressed the media after the demise of former Wimbledon champion, Jana Novotna. Navratilova was quite emotional while describing the kind of support she got during her tough times from Novotna. “Not sure I can talk; I don’t want to keep crying. Jana was simply amazing to me when I was going through the radiation treatments in Paris, and since we lived so close to each other then, we spent a lot of time together,” she said.

She further stated, “Her support to me was unwavering. I did see Jana before Wimbledon, and she looked really good.” 

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Novotna reached a career-high singles ranking of No. 2 thanks to her formidable serve and volley game. She won 13 Grand Slam doubles titles and 4 mixed doubles titles, with Wimbledon being her only Grand Slam singles victory. In 2005, she was also recognized by being inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame.

Navratilova recently tweeted in remembrance of Novotna

Recently, in July 2022, Martina Navratilova took to Twitter in remembrance of her colleague and friend, Novotna. She quoted a tweet which talked about her and Novotna by writing, “I miss Jana so much….”

Navratilova last paired up with the former Novotna in the year 2010. The duo faced Tracy Austin and Kathy Rinaldi in the finals of the ladies’ invitational doubles title and defeated them convincingly.

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Talking about the records, Novotna won 24 singles titles, 12 women’s doubles titles, and 4 mixed doubles titles. She had also won a Wimbledon championship in the year 1999.