Novotna Ends Her Season on a Confident Note

NEW YORK — As far as statements go, Jana Novotna’s could not be faulted for ambiguity. By defeating Mary Pierce in Sunday’s final of the season-ending Chase Championships, Novotna intended to obliterate any trace of her history of failure in important finals.

Not that Novotna’s 7-6 (7-4), 6-2, 6-3 victory in Madison Square Garden can be interpreted as anything other than a highly talented player marshaling all of her skills.

Rather, Novotna seized the stage and imbued the occasion with an august significance that better suited her agenda. Novotna understandably bristles when the topic of her record in Grand Slam finals is raised. Rather than dwelling on the three potential titles she lost, Novotna prefers to note that she made three Grand Slam finals.

Perhaps in an effort to repair that record, Novotna elevated Sunday’s achievement, calling it “The Fifth Slam.”

“I have come a long way,” Novotna said. “I made it three times to the finals of a Grand Slam and twice I was very close to winning it. After today’s victory, I have proved to myself that I am a great champion. Even if I don’t win a tournament from now on, even if I don’t win another match, I just proved to myself that I am the player I expected to be, and that I am a great champion, no question about it.”

She’s not the only player to have read deep meaning into the tournament whose chief claim is that it affects year-end rankings. In practice, this tournament is all about tidying up tennis’ loose ends and affirming each player’s position in the sport’s hierarchy. Concerns about prize money and rankings are dwarfed by the jockeying for emotional supremacy and confidence-building.

The tournament’s exclusivity--only the top 16 players qualify--lends a certain frenzy to the proceedings. Players are determined to leave an impression, a performance that peers may dwell on during the brief off-season.

Thus, in the peculiar logic at work here, the most significant outcome of a week of tennis was that No. 1 Martina Hingis lost for only the fifth time this season. Pierce beat her, and all players will measure themselves against that in preparing to thwart another Hingis juggernaut next season.

Novotna’s “I have arrived” proclamation is as much her own pep talk as it is to serve notice that her record is yesterday’s news. Novotna will finish the year at No. 2. Using the victory as a motivational trampoline, the 29-year-old projected a sensational season for herself next year.

Novotna, who teamed with Lindsay Davenport to win the doubles title Saturday in five sets, won $600,000 this week.

Pierce was more tentative in claiming her place, which will remain at No. 7. The 22-year-old won only one title this year. She began the season by getting to the final at the Australian Open. The unseeded Pierce lost to Hingis, and never got a consistent streak going on the tour.

After losing in the fourth round at the U.S. Open, Pierce all but fell off the tennis map. She played two Fed Cup matches for France but a kidney infection kept her off the tour.

Pierce won one match at Chicago earlier this month before losing to Serena Williams. Those four sets of tour tennis were her preparation for the week of tennis against the best women in the game.

Given the circumstances, it wouldn’t figure Pierce would play well here, but she has never been predictable.

Her aggressive first set Sunday, in which she went to the net at every chance, was also against type. Novotna watched in surprise as Pierce appropriated her own serve-and-volley style.

Novotna is 5-0 against Pierce and suspected a change in tactics.

“I knew she would have to come up with something new to beat me, because I’ve never lost to her,” Novotna said. “I knew she would have to be quite aggressive, but I didn’t know she would be that aggressive.”

In fact, Pierce attacked the net more than Novotna, but the Czech had more success with the tactic.

Novotna adjusted, coming back from 2-4 in the tiebreak and reeling off five consecutive points to win.

The first set proved crucial, as Novotna used it to reinforce her confidence and Pierce saw only the daunting task ahead. Novotna’s penetrating serve negated Pierce’s ability to gain break points. She had five and converted on none.

Absent any advantage, Pierce succumbed to Novotna and her ever-budding confidence.