Novotna no longer a loser

Tears ran down her cheeks on Centre Court once again but for once Jana Novotna had no recourse to self recrimination. In winning the women's singles at Wimbledon on Saturday, the 29year-old Czech world number three finally banished the tag of gallant loser.

The demons of yesteryear resurfaced briefly in the second set, but ultimately they were exorcised as Novotna stumbled to a 64, 7-6 victory over France's Nathalie Tauziat. Novotna will not care that the quality of tennis was at best indifferent, pockmarked with unforced error and a tightening of both body and mind.

At the end of it all she prostrated herself on court and then looked to those who guided her to the pinnacle of her career.

Perched in the players' box, Novotna's coach, former Wimbledon finalist Hana Mandlikova beamed with pride and it was appropriate and perhaps enlightening to watch Novotna scramble her way over seat and bench for a joyous reunion.

Those who have known abject failure in defeat often better appreciate the moment of success. The packed auditorium who had given their support unconditionally were vociferous in their celebration. They had shared in Novotna's grief and felt entitled and privileged to witness the ultimate rehabilitation.

Standing bravely amid all the emotional baggage was 30-yearold Frenchwoman Tauziat. She succumbed to the occasion, producing arguably her least effective performance of the latter rounds. She lacked the mental bravery to pursue ultimate glory. She needed to take away Novotna's favourite playground, the net, beat her opponent to the punch but only on occasion did she attempt this.

Her hesitancy was most obvious on second serve which she failed to follow into the net, allowing Novotna to punish her grievously through the chip-and-charge or simply taking the ball early with powerful groundstrokes. Tauziat admitted her folly afterwards, stating that she lacked the aggression to dictate rallies.

The defining moment of the first set came in the seventh game, a protracted affair that included five deuces and one contentious line call which umpire Jane Harvey overruled much to Tauziat's chagrin. The fact that Novotna had stuck her finger up to indicate the ball was out did little to comfort the Frenchwoman. Two points later Novotna had the crucial break which she maintained on serve to win the set 6-4.

When Tauziat dropped her serve once again in the opening game of the second set one expected a short-lived contest but the nerves and doubts seemed to assail Novotna once again and a double fault saw her cough up her serve: it was 3-3. Her opponent, through a litany of error, handed back the momentum and with Novotna serving at 5-3, the crowd awaited the coronation of a favourite daughter.

But they reckoned without a gutsy Tauziat who finally shook off her conservatism, charged the net and mixed up length and pace intelligently. Taking three games, the atmosphere inside the Centre Court changed, supporters' fear for Novotna's brittle temperament tangible.

There was to be no abdication of responsibility. The Czech held her serve and began the tie-break in a positive manner, eventually winning it 7-2. As Novotna clutched the huge trophy, thoughts of a cheque for £391,500 (£195,750 for the runner-up) were furthest from her mind.

This moment was about the fulfilment of a talent, the best serve and volley exponent in women's tennis, finally claiming a tournament that could have been sculpted for her alone.