Date Krumm on cusp of Open return
在澳網官網上對伊達公子的側寫，真難得有一位在會外賽的選手會被關注到:p
在她的訪談中她一再提及她現在比九十年代更享受網球，
她提到並沒有給自己設定太多未來目標，只要享受就好。
Scanning through the women’s qualifying draw, the casual tennis observer
could be forgiven for overlooking the name Kimiko Date Krumm.
Tennis aficionados, however, will remember Date Krumm – or simply Date as
she was known before her marriage to German racing driver Michael Krumm – as
a former world No.4 who won several WTA Tour titles and was a consistent
presence in the top 10 during the mid 1990s.
Japan’s Date Krumm (pronounced DAH-tay) began to have thoughts of a comeback
after defeating Steffi Graf and Martina Navratilova in exhibition matches in
Tokyo during March 2008. In April, she announced she would be returning to
the tour.
The 38-year-old is at Melbourne Park contesting the qualifying tournament.
She progressed to the final round on Friday following a three-set win over
Estonia’s Maret Ani, and stands one match away from her first main draw
appearance since 1996.
Discussing her goals for the second phase of her playing career, Date Krumm
said she was simply aiming to have fun. “I love tennis, I love sports, and I
like a challenge, and so I’m just enjoying my tennis now as a player,” she
said.
Comebacks on the WTA Tour have become increasingly common. In the past few
years, players such as Martina Navratilova, Martina Hingis, Brenda
Schultz-McCarthy, Sesil Karatantcheva, Alexandra Stevenson, Mirjana Lucic and
Jelena Dokic reappeared on tour following retirement, long-term injury or
suspension.
Date Krumm’s return to the tour came 12 years after she abruptly walked away
from the game while ranked world No. 8. She had completed an impressive
season, reaching the Wimbledon semifinals, winning two singles titles and
scoring a win over then No. 1 Graf in Federation Cup play. In the years
preceding 1996 she also reached semifinals at the Australian Open and French
Open, and triumphed at the prestigious Tokyo Pan Pacific Open. Despite her
glittering CV, she felt unsatisfied.
“I didn’t enjoy it before [when she played during the 1990s] because there
was too much pressure, travelling and stress,” she admitted.
“At the moment, I’m enjoying it a little bit better than before.”
Her results since her return clearly indicate that she is approaching her
tennis with a positive outlook. She enjoyed considerable success on the ITF
circuit throughout 2008, winning three singles titles and climbing to No.
198. So where does Date Krumm see herself heading in 2009?
“Everybody asks me [about my goals] but I don’t want to think about goals,
because I like to play tennis, I’m just enjoying it, taking it step by step.
I’m just trying to get to a higher level [than I was at last year]. Every
two or three months I’ll think about what my next target is,” she explained.
One has to wonder how the diminutive Japanese player will fare against the
best in the world should she qualify for the main draw.
For a woman approaching 40 years of age, Date Krumm’s game is extremely
impressive. She plays with a compact and efficient style, taking the ball
early, nimbly covering the court and playing the big points well. Her
performance in the third set against Ani was especially telling, rebounding
to thrash the Estonian 6-0 after her higher-ranked opponent clinched a tight
second set.
However, Date Krumm’s serve and groundstrokes probably lack the power and
penetration necessary to match it with the big-hitting, athletic brigade of
Jelena Jankovic, Ana Ivanovic and the Williams sisters. This is something she
recognises.
“Of course [the game has improved], everybody has a better physical
standard, they’re speedier [around the court], more powerful … it is a bit
different compared to when I last played,” she said.
Date Krumm has improved on her own physical level, saying she enjoys training
for the game much more than when she played during the 1990s. She does
Pilates, runs three to four times per week, and in 2004 even ran a marathon,
completing the event in an impressive three hours and 27 minutes. She says
her stamina has improved as a result.
“I take better care of my body than when I last played. I used to hate
running, but with my age I have to take better care of my body,” she said.
And should she make it to the main draw at Melbourne Park, she will not be
intimidated by who she faces.
“I just concentrate on the ball. I don’t think about who my opponent is,”
she said.
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