Barbara Schett defeated Jana Novotna 6-4 6-3 in the Hamburg quarter-final on clay. The upset overturned the form book — Jana Novotna came in leading the head-to-head 2–0, defending last year's final. Barbara Schett claimed a first win over Jana Novotna in three meetings, narrowing the head-to-head to 2–1.
| Date | Tournament | Round | Surface | Winner | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998-05-11 | Berlin | R32 | grass | Jana Novotna | 1-6 7-6 7-6 |
| 1997-04-07 | Amelia Island | R32 | clay | Jana Novotna | 4-6 6-4 6-0 |
Averages over each player's completed matches in the selected window. ATP, WTA & Challenger.