1998 Wimbledon Championships – Women's Singles 1998 Wimbledon Championships – Women's Singles Martina Hingis was the defending champion but lost in the semifinals to Jana Novotná, in a rematch of the previous year's final. Novotná defeated Nathalie Tauziat in the final, 6–4, 7–6 to win the Ladies' Singles tennis title at the 1998 Wimbledon Championships. This was Novotná's first win in a Wimbledon final on her third attempt. This would be the last time a Czech player would win Wimbledon (or win a Grand Slam title) until Petra Kvitová won in 2011. The 1998 final was the first time in the Open Era since the 1980
1877 Wimbledon Championship H. Walsh, in his capacity as editor of "The Field", persuaded his employer to donate a cup worth 25 guineas for the winner; the "Field Cup". The cup was made of sterling silver and had the inscription: "The All England Lawn Challenge Cup – Presented by the Proprietors of The Field – For competition by Amateurs – Wimbledon July 1877". On 6 July 1877, three days prior to the start of the tournament, a notice was published in "The Times": Next week at the All England Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club Ground a Lawn Tennis Championship Meeting will be held.