'Jana was a true friend and an amazing woman' - Social media tributes to Novotna

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Novotna with Martina Navratilova at Wimbledon in 2013 (Getty)

After Jana Novotna, the 1998 Wimbledon singles champion and and the winner of 12 Grand Slam doubles titles, passed away at the age of 49, tennis stars past and present took to social media to pay their tributes.

The tennis world is so sad about the passing of Jana Novotna...I am gutted and beyond words- Jana was a true friend and an amazing woman...

— Martina Navratilova (@Martina) November 20, 2017

Moc smutná zpráva o Janě Novotné. Vždy pro mě byla velkou inspirací. Odpočívej v pokoji.

So sad to hear about Jana Novotná. She will be always the champion for me. RIP

— Karolina Pliskova (@KaPliskova) November 20, 2017

Jana was as kind as she was athletic, as smart as she was competive. I can’t believe she is gone this soon. Her smile lives forever young.

— Pam Shriver (@PHShriver) November 20, 2017

A sad loss to the tennis world, but a devastating loss to those of us who shared a deep friendship with her...a woman with integrity and honor. RIP Jana.

— Chris Evert (@ChrissieEvert) November 20, 2017

Deeply saddened & shocked to hear this! ?? RIP Jana https://t.co/nivihVlbLt

— Sabine Lisicki (@sabinelisicki) November 20, 2017

You will be always remembered for this amazing, kind, beautiful woman in and out you were. I was lucky enough to share some wonderful moments on the court with you and your experience and advices helped me so much. #R.I.P Jana, we, @WTA players will never forget you https://t.co/R3oRFRYOzI

— Marion bartoli (@bartoli_marion) November 20, 2017

Conchita Martínez, a fellow Wimbledon singles champion, wrote: "How sad to start the day with this terrible news, Jana Novotna has left us too soon. RIP Jana, you will be missed."

Que tristeza empezar el día con esta terrible noticia ,nos deja Jana Novotna demasiado pronto. DEP
RIP JANA , you will be missed

— Conchita Martínez (@conchitamartinz) November 20, 2017

??RIP Jana Novotna https://t.co/5WUHwvXWIa

— Kristina Mladenovic (@KikiMladenovic) November 20, 2017

RIP Jana ? https://t.co/RRuBi0eRZr

— Jule Goerges✌️?? (@juliagoerges) November 20, 2017

So sad! ? RIP Jana https://t.co/l5Fjn6CVp7

— Naomi Broady (@NaomiBroady) November 20, 2017

R.I.P. Jana Novotna ?? Will always be my childhood hero! Leaving too soon, so sad... #speechless

— iveta benesova (@IvetaBenesova) November 20, 2017

What a wonderful person, beautiful soul tennis player and role model we have lost today. I’ll miss you Jana ? #Jana Novotna pic.twitter.com/KuMfoOdqwv

— Barbara Schett-Eagle (@Babsschett) November 20, 2017

We will never forget Jana’s tears on the Duchess of Kent’s shoulder at Wimbledon in 1993, but as the Duchess predicted, it would be third time lucky in the final of ‘98.

— Russell Fuller (@russellcfuller) November 20, 2017