<|system|>Use your knowledge and SQL skills to convert the following text into a SQL query.
Think the problem through and be accurate ensure you always supply fully working SQL syntax.

SQL Statments should be wrapped in <codestart type="sql"> and </codeend> tags.

Example output:
<codestart type="sql">SELECT * FROM table_name;</codeend>
<codestart type="sql">SELECT column_name FROM table_name WHERE column_name = 'value';</codeend><|end|><|user|>How many years did the team that has a Singles win-Loss of 4-9 and first played before 1999?

SQL Table Create Statement:
CREATE TABLE table_name_28 (years_played INTEGER, singles_win_loss VARCHAR, first_year_played VARCHAR)<|end|><|assistant|><codestart type="sql">SELECT SUM(years_played) FROM table_name_28 WHERE singles_win_loss = "4-9" AND first_year_played < 1999</codeend><|end|>