Fracture toughness and fracture strength data are presented for the first time for monoclinic zirconia. An undoped nanocrystalline zirconia powder was sintered at 1100degreesC and yielded a theoretical density of more than 90% with a grain size of about 150 nm. The surface crack in flexure (SCF) technique was deemed most suitable for nanocrystalline materials. Measurements of Young's modulus and the determination of the fracture origin are also provided.