SEOUL, South Korea - Japan's Kimiko Date Krumm became the oldest player to win a WTA tournament since Billie Jean King when she capped a remarkable comeback by beating second-seeded Anabel Medina Garrigues of Spain to claim the Korea Open title yesterday.
SEOUL, South Korea - Japan's Kimiko Date Krumm became the oldest player to win a WTA tournament since Billie Jean King when she capped a remarkable comeback by beating second-seeded Anabel Medina Garrigues of Spain to claim the Korea Open title yesterday.
The title was Date Krumm's first in 13 years and eighth of her career. Formerly ranked No. 4 in the world, she quit tennis in 1996 before returning last year.
Date Krumm, who turns 39 today, became the oldest woman to win a WTA title since King in England in 1983 at the age of 39 years, seven months and 23 days.
Date Krumm, advanced to the final after rallying to beat defending champion Maria Kirilenko of Russia 3-6, 6-2, 6-4, then made light work of Medina Garrigues in one hour, 27 minutes.
She'd beaten Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia 7-6 (3), 4-6, 6-4 in the quarterfinals.
She won her last title beating Spain's Arantxa Sanchez Vicario in 1996. Sapa-AP
Date with destiny
SEOUL, South Korea - Japan's Kimiko Date Krumm became the oldest player to win a WTA tournament since Billie Jean King when she capped a remarkable comeback by beating second-seeded Anabel Medina Garrigues of Spain to claim the Korea Open title yesterday.
SEOUL, South Korea - Japan's Kimiko Date Krumm became the oldest player to win a WTA tournament since Billie Jean King when she capped a remarkable comeback by beating second-seeded Anabel Medina Garrigues of Spain to claim the Korea Open title yesterday.
The title was Date Krumm's first in 13 years and eighth of her career. Formerly ranked No. 4 in the world, she quit tennis in 1996 before returning last year.
Date Krumm, who turns 39 today, became the oldest woman to win a WTA title since King in England in 1983 at the age of 39 years, seven months and 23 days.
Date Krumm, advanced to the final after rallying to beat defending champion Maria Kirilenko of Russia 3-6, 6-2, 6-4, then made light work of Medina Garrigues in one hour, 27 minutes.
She'd beaten Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia 7-6 (3), 4-6, 6-4 in the quarterfinals.
She won her last title beating Spain's Arantxa Sanchez Vicario in 1996. Sapa-AP