'Miracle woman' Date marks 40th with Tokyo win

29 Sep, 2010

Japan's Kimiko Date Krumm celebrated her 40th birthday by beating Daniela Hantuchova to reach the Pan Pacific Open third round on Tuesday. The former world number four won 2-6 6-0 4-0 after her Slovakian opponent retired with a shoulder injury.
-- Japanese continues dream run
-- Top seed Wozniacki posts easy win
"It's a miracle I was able to stand up after yesterday's match," Date Krumm, who stunned defending champion Maria Sharapova in the opening round, told reporters. "Maybe some luck rubbed off on me because it was my birthday," added the Japanese veteran, who won the Tokyo title in 1995.
Second seed Vera Zvonareva overpowered Italian Sara Errani 6-3 6-3 to underline her title credentials at the $2 million tournament. "I always believe if I play my best tennis I can beat anyone," said the Russian, who reached this year's Wimbledon and US Open finals. "I can't wait for what's next."
Top seed Caroline Wozniacki thrashed Hungary's Greta Arn 6-1 6-3 but fourth seed Samantha Stosur of Australia was eliminated 7-5 6-3 by Germany's Julia Goerges and Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova also lost. The 10th seed went down 6-3 7-5 to German Andrea Petkovic in another
upset but 11th-seeded Frenchwoman Marion Bartoli avoided a potential banana skin by crushing Serb Ana Ivanovic 6-2 6-1. "Every time I go into a tournament I want to win it," said Dane Wozniacki, fast closing in on the number one ranking. "That is my main goal. I am not thinking about the rankings."

Read Comments