Jana Novotna, best remembered for sobbing on the Duchess of Kent's shoulder in 1993, beat defending champion Martina Hingis in straight sets today to reach the Wimbledon final.
In a rematch of last year's championship, Novotna came from behind in both sets to win 6-4, 6-4 and send the top seed to her second straight semifinal defeat in a Grand Slam.The third-seeded Novotna, the Wimbledon runner-up in 1993 and 1997, will be a big favorite in Saturday's final against Nathalie Tauziat.
Tauziat recovered from a horrible start to beat Natasha Zvereva 1-6, 7-6 (7-1), 6-3, becoming the first French woman to reach the Wimbledon final in 73 years.
The presence of Novotna, 29, and Tauziat, 30, in the final represents a stunning victory for the old guard of women's tennis over the new.
Hingis, 17, was the last of the teen-age stars in the draw. The Williams sisters, 16-year-old Serena and 18-year-old Venus, lost earlier and 17-year-old Anna Kournikova missed the tournament with an injury.
Hingis, at 16, became the youngest women's Wimbledon champion of the open era last year. But this time, she was outplayed in all phases by Novotna, her doubles partner.
It was Novotna's first win over Hingis after a run of four defeats. Wednesday at Wimbledon, Venus Williams screamed at the umpire over disputed calls, cried on Centre Court when they weren't reversed and repeatedly lost her cool.
She also lost 7-5, 7-6 (7-2) in the quarterfinals against two-time Wimbledon runner-up Novotna and - like her sister Serena before her - left the All England Club without the singles title after bragging she'd win it.
"It's too late now, I'll have to wait until next year," she said.
At least it was good theater.
And for a time, Williams' tennis was just as good.
Playing in only her second Wimbledon after losing last year in the first round, she took a 4-1 lead in the first set before Novotna found her serve-and-volley game to take the set.
The outbursts came in the second set when the 6-foot-2 Williams twice shouted at chair umpire Mike Morrissey after shots that landed near the line weren't called out.
"That was SO far out," she shouted in the first game of the second set. But the high-drama came in the seventh game on another non-call.
"I know it's OUT, she knows it's OUT, everyone knows it's OUT. But you don't know it's OUT," Williams shouted. She screamed at Morrissey and then whirled around, playing to the crowd.
The Centre Court crowd applauded in support.
Television replays showed the balls might have been long, but both were close.
"The crowd probably enjoyed my emotional outbursts," she said. "I guess someone would turn the channel and suddenly see some girl screaming and keep it there. I know I would. It probably brightened up someone's day."