S. Korean Kim knocked out of opening round of local WTA tourney

SEOUL, Sept. 20 (Yonhap) -- Kim So-jung was knocked out of the opening round at the Hansol Korea Open tennis tournament here Tuesday, failing to end a winless drought for South Koreans in the event's seven-year history.
Eleni Daniilidou of Greece beat Kim 4-6, 6-2, 7-5 in the only Women's Tennis Association (WTA) competition in South Korea.
Kim had received the wild card into the first round. She was the only local player among 32 players in the opening stage.
Since the tournament began in 2004, no Korean singles player has won a match.
Kim took the first set over Daniilidou, the 2006 Hansol champ who committed seven faults in the opening set and was forced to call a medical timeout. But she bounced back to take the second set, capitalizing on Kim's series of unforced errors.
Trailing 4-1 in the third set, Kim pulled even at 5-5, but Daniilidou prevailed by taking the next two games.
Kimiko Date-Krumm of Japan dropped to Vania King in straight sets. The 40-year-old Date-Krumm, who won the event in 2009, was trying to become the oldest winner of a WTA event.
Billie Jean King holds the age record at 39 years, seven months and 23 days. Date-Krumm will turn 41 on Sept. 28.