Kimiko Date-Krumm at AO 2013

[vive le beau jeu !]

みんな さん こんにちは !

no thread about her ?



she's in the 3rd round at 42 years old ! i think it's remarkable...
(ok ok... 3, 2, 1, 0... until some of you say what a joke the WTA tour is... but still !)

even navratilova didn't do this, did she ?
(what could be the record ?... mustard are you into girls too ?)

3rd round vs jovanovski (21 years old !)... ganbatte !

Dream run continues for 42yo Date-Krumm
Thursday, 17 January, 2013
By Darren Saligari

Crouched over, ready to receive, 42-year-old Kimiko Date-Krumm looks like she's waiting for the starter's gun to set her off on a marathon.

Thankfully she didn't have to run any marathons today with the heat in Melbourne topping 39C.

The Japanese veteran would have been very pleased to get out of Thursday’s second-round match in straight sets, a 6-2 7-5 victory over former world No.11 Shahar Peer of Israel.

The oldest woman in the draw, much has been made of Date-Krumm's first-round victory - her first in Melbourne since 1996. She was a semifinalist here back in 1994, that year Steffi Graf, the top seed, defeated her and went on to win the final.

Now when Graf and Date-Krumm speak, the former world No.1 German encourages her friend to hang up her racquet and start a family, but Date-Krumm isn't ready for that just yet.

It says a lot about Date-Krumm's longevity. Despite retiring and returning 10 years later, she's still capable of handing out a lesson or two.

An early break in the first set proved to be the perfect start for crowd favourite Date-Krumm. The diminutive Japanese chaser is a master at turning her opponent's pace on her.

She did this to perfection in the seventh game as she effected yet another break to comfortably take the opening set 6-2.

The second set was more of an arm wrestle as Date-Krumm and Peer traded breaks with alarming regularity. In all there were seven breaks of serve for the set as the sun beat down on the players.

"I was leading 3‑0, then she come back 4‑3 up, and then I had the big pressure," Date-Krumm said.

"It was a big challenge for me because my body, after when I was leading 3‑0, suddenly something big and strong on my back or something happen, and I felt so heavy my body and I couldn't move. But I tried to push myself."

Despite Peer getting the second set back on equal terms, Date-Krumm had one last trick up her sleeve; a stunning crosscourt backhand winner the final treat for the loyal crowd who braved the heat to watch the match on Court 6 and Date-Krumm didn't disappoint, closing out the match to keep her dream alive.

from: http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/...402778646.html

[PeteD]

Still playing singles (AND doubles!) and still cute!

[jwjh]

Q. Have they got in touch with you?
KIMIKO DATE KRUMM: If I see them, for example, this morning I met Iva Majoli, and she said, Good job yesterday. So keep going.
Everybody say to me, You are crazy. First word is always, You are crazy. But they support me a lot.
Rennae Stubbs, she's from here, so we meet every day. Then we talk a lot. Raymond is still playing doubles.
When I see Steffi, of course, she say to me, You should stop now and make the baby (laughter). And Davenport, Lindsay, Mary Joe, Conchita, Arantxa Sanchez. I don't see so much Gaby. But many extennis player, yeah, talking and laughing, yes.

[TennisFan436]

When I grow up I wante to be like Date Krumm. 42 never looked so good (or played that impressive!)

[Relinquis]

she's great.

which of the current generation of pros do you guys think will still be around at 35? never mind 42!

[bluetrain4]

Clearly, she just likes to play. And, remember, she was gone for 10! years. So, though she's still 42, she doesn't have the wear-and-tear as if she had played for those 10 years.

I love that all her old friends from the tour say she's crazy -- "Kimiko, WTF?" Lol. She's been back since 2009. I wonder how many more years she'll play.

[Moose Malloy]

(what could be the record ?...

Ranked No. 100 at the start of the tournament and projected to climb into the top 80, the 42-year-old made history in the first round when she became the oldest player to win a match at the Australian Open (ousting No. 12 Nadia Petrova). Now Date-Krumm’s the oldest player to reach the third round of any Grand Slam tournament since Renee Richards did so as a 45-year-old at the 1979 U.S. Open.

http://tennis.si.com/2013/01/17/kimi.../?sct=tn_t2_a9

[vive le beau jeu !]

Originally Posted by Moose Malloy

Ranked No. 100 at the start of the tournament and projected to climb into the top 80, the 42-year-old made history in the first round when she became the oldest player to win a match at the Australian Open (ousting No. 12 Nadia Petrova). Now Date-Krumm’s the oldest player to reach the third round of any Grand Slam tournament since Renee Richards did so as a 45-year-old at the 1979 U.S. Open.

http://tennis.si.com/2013/01/17/kimi.../?sct=tn_t2_a9

thx for, as often, finding the answer, moose.

so, renee richards... the transsexual ?
now we're heading up towards another interesting topic !

[Moose Malloy]

^lol

and look at who Richards beat in the 1st round of that USO - Mary Carillo!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1979_US...en%27s_Singles

they should have a graphic that says that under her name when she does commentary

[CCNM]

Kimiko D-making us "old" folks look good!!! Keep it up!!!!

[tennisdad65]

Remember the oldies who played well in their late 30s were generally flat hitters?
Rosewall, Connors

No surprise with Kimiko doing well. Hitting flat and low is the perfect foil for the modern topspin. Also, she rarely goes for angles, unless it is for a winner..
This seems to be her strategy:
flat and deep down the middle
flat and deep down the middle
......
short ball.. angled winner

[ruerooo]

She is awesome!

And playing doubles today.

[Tanya]

Originally Posted by Moose Malloy

^lol

and look at who Richards beat in the 1st round of that USO - Mary Carillo!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1979_US...en%27s_Singles

they should have a graphic that says that under her name when she does commentary

Best post ever

[scrappy]

i am in awe. very inspiring. love the fact that she's also a marathoner with impressive times. amazing athlete.

[Ico]

She has a very nice draw to sneak into the QFs.

[Beryl]

Mrs. Michael Krumm and her Spanish doubles partner won again today in 3 sets.

[augustobt]

Can't confirm a break of service.

[rk_sports]

wow.. just switched to her match now..never knew she is such a fighter !! .

[rk_sports]

ah! Kimiko's dream run ends

[vive le beau jeu !]

Originally Posted by Beryl

Mrs. Michael Krumm and her Spanish doubles partner won again today in 3 sets.

they defeated the 2nd seed !
http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/...s/wd/r2s1.html

Originally Posted by rk_sports

ah! Kimiko's dream run ends

oh... snif.
still a good fight: lost 62 76 to jovanovski.