Game Point: Kimiko Date Krumm celebrates her 40th in style
Game Point is Busted Racquet's roundup of facts, figures and links from around the web. Today, we celebrate Kimiko Date Krumm, who entered her fifth decade with a win in Tokyo.
Love -- On her 40th birthday, Date Krumm moved into the third round of the Pan Pacific Open with a three-set victory over Daniela Hantuchova, who retired down 4-0 in the third. (As James LaRosa Tweeted: "Who retires 2 games away from giving a 40-year-old a big win at home on her b-day? You're a mean one Mrs Grinch."
15 -- Date Krumm received a wild card into the event in her home country. She made the most of it, stunning Maria Sharapova in the first round. Date Krumm is ranked No. 67 and has played a selective schedule in her return to tennis.
30 -- If she were to win Tokyo, Date Krumm would become the oldest woman ever to win a tour event. Billie Jean King was 39 when she won in Birmingham in 1983. The 40-year-old set another record earlier this year when she became the oldest player to ever defeat a player ranked in the top 10. There should be an asterisk by that one, though, as said player was Dinara Safina.
40 -- Date Krumm was born four months after The Beatles broke up, days before Jimi Hendrix died and well before anyone had heard of the Pentagon Papers or Watergate. She made her WTA debut before Tokyo top-seed Caroline Wozniacki was born.
Game -- For more on Date Krumm, read our post from last year that detailed her victory in Korea. With that win, the Japanese player became the oldest woman since King to win a WTA event.
