Tennis: Date Krumm wins Korea Open

SEOUL, Sept. 27 Kyodo -
Japan's Kimiko Date Krumm rolled back the years to complete her remarkable
comeback by beating Spain's Anabel Medina Garrigues in straight sets in
Sunday's final at the Korea Open.
Date Krumm, who surprised the tennis world by announcing her return to the game
in April last year after a 12-year hiatus, beat second-seeded Medina Garrigues
6-3, 6-3 to claim her eighth career singles title on the eve of her 39th
birthday.
''I am delighted,'' said Date Krumm. ''I wasn't thinking about the result and
just enjoyed myself. There was no big pressure.''
''I am 39 tomorrow and I don't really know where this energy is coming from,''
she joked.
Sunday's victory was her first in a WTA final since August 1996, when she
defeated Arantxa Sanchez Vicario at the Toshiba Classic in San Diego.
She became the second-oldest woman after Billie Jean King to capture a WTA Tour
singles title. King won Birmingham in 1983 at 39 years and 7 months.
Since her comeback, Date Krumm had enjoyed success on the ITF women's circuit,
but had not broken through again at the WTA level, going 0-8 in main draws.
''I can't believe I have won my first (WTA) title since making my comeback,''
said Date Krumm.
''I kept on not winning matches on the tour that I thought I could win but I
have not given up and kept on challenging.''
==Kyodo