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 No more Novotna Former Wimbledon champion falls in final match
Posted: Tuesday October 05, 1999 02:45 PM
FILDERSTADT, Germany (AP) -- Jana Novotna, the 1998 Wimbledon champion, ended her 12-year career Tuesday, losing her final match on the tour to Silvia Farina 6-3, 6-4 at the Porsche Grand Prix. Novotna, who turned 31 three days ago, has dropped to No. 18, her lowest ranking in 10 years. She was No. 2 in the world in 1997 and after winning Wimbledon last year. She was sidelined for a long time after spraining an ankle and partially tearing ligaments in June. After losing in the third round of the U.S. Open, Novotna said she would quit at the end of the year. But a first-round loss to Magdalena Maleeva in Luxembourg two weeks ago persuaded Novotna to play only one more tournament. Novotna, who was born in Brno, Czech Republic, won 24 titles on the WTA Tour after turning pro in 1987. But she had only one title this year, in February in Hanover, Germany, when she beat Venus Williams in the final. She also won 73 doubles titles. Novotna was honored at the end her match and received a standing ovation as she waved to the crowd. In other matches, Anke Huber of Germany fought back after trailing 1-5 and 15-40 in the second set against Julie Halard-Decugis. Huber saved two match points and went on to oust the seventh-seeded French player 4-6, 7-5, 6-1. Jennifer Capriati reached the second round of the $520,000 indoor tournament by beating Irina Spirela 6-4, 6-1.
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