Week 41 - WTA ($220K) - Osaka, Japan Hard

Julia Carrot · All-time great

Week 41 - WTA ($220K) - Osaka, Japan Hard

Julia Carrot · All-time great

1st DF for Kimi !

0-30
0-40 Can't believe this !!
3 bp's for Laura

15-40

2 bp's
Ace
1 bp left, 2nd serve
Deuce (darrn)
1 more bp, 2nd serve
Yes !!!!!!
Laura breaks for 1st time when Kimi is serving for the match
*2-5

Julia Carrot · All-time great

DF ( oh dear) (No 6 in match)

0-30

15-30

30-30

2nd serve

40 - 30 !

Deuce

2nd serve

MP

2nd serve

Ace Laura

and now GP !!!

3 - 5* Genius !!!

Julia Carrot · All-time great

Now Kimi tries to serve it out again

Would you believe it, my connection has gone !!! 'Spect its all over now.

Trying to reconnect

Ah and its deuce with a df for Kimi
MP, again

and she does it

GSM Kimi 6-3 6-3

Ahhhh, but it got quite exciting towards the end

philwrig · Hall of fame

My initial thoughts on this match were going to be a tennis lesson from 3-3 in the first, because not only was Laura losing games she was hardly winning a point, but finally at 5-1 down she found something and to be fair Date had to work quite a bit to complete the win. Still overall a little disappointed that it wasn't more competitive but its still a great experience gained. Now she has to find a new permanent coach and assuming she makes the right appointment I am very confident for next year, should be close to a top 100 spot by the end of next year.

In other news both herself and Andy have finally been confirmed for HC next year.

indiana · Tennis legend

Yes, maybe a bit disappointing that Laura was not able to be generally more competitive. But ultimately Kimiko is a class player in form, playing at home, and any expectations just say so much of how Laura has been coming on.

Looks as if on serve, while it was maybe not at it's very best ( clearly difficult to really judge ) with a few DFs in there ( 6 in 57 total serves, 25 second serves ) she at least held her own in points. On serve she won 5 of her 9 service games while winning just under half the points, 28 - 29.

Real issue on competitiveness was as said, on return. From the go, she just couldn't make any mark on Kimiko's serve and at 5 - 1 in the second set had won only 4 out of 32 return points. So it was good for a little confidence that she did so get into Kimiko's serve in those last 2 return games, breaking and in the two games sharing the points 8 - 8 so that eventually she was on points, 12 - 36 down on return points.

I guess an overall match score of 6 - 3 6 - 3 ( points 65 - 40 ) is pretty much how many would have seen the sort of likely result, though I'm never brave enough to actually predict game scores

Anyway in the last 3 games ( 2 of which Kimiko served ) Laura won 2 - 1 ( 14 points to 12 ). She was just warming up smile

briteny · Intermediate Club Player

Oh c'om! She is only 16! Give her a bit more time. Anyway, she is still growing.. I guess.

kaseldop · Social player

Date now in semi's.(6) Kimiko Date Krumm (JPN) d. (1) Samantha Stosur (AUS) 57 63 76(4)

Laura feeling not so bad I think.

-- Edited by kaseldop on Friday 15th of October 2010 11:39:06 AM

PockyTastic · Futures level

Kimiko just took out Stosur so is clearly in good form this week (though Sam has had dubious form recently).

EDIT: Beaten to it biggrin

-- Edited by PockyTastic on Friday 15th of October 2010 11:39:10 AM

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

Duly approved. It's the links that do it, I think. (to Kaseldop)

-- Edited by Madeline on Friday 15th of October 2010 11:39:46 AM

indiana · Tennis legend

Yes, that Krumm could go really far once she gets a bit older.

Maza1987 · Challenger level

Who is this young whipper snapper Krumm?
More info please.

Happycynic · Pro player

Kimiko Date Krumm is Kimiko Date, as was, who was a top ten player for quite a long time quite a long time ago (she retired in 1996 at the age of 26 after three years in the top ten with a CH of 4).

She has come back in the last couple of years, and despite hitting 40 in September is still rising through the rankings, and will hit the top 50 with this tournament.

Great story. I never believed she would make it back. I was soooo wrong.

indiana · Tennis legend

Oh, thanks for the info

johnnylad · Tennis legend

Kimiko has made the final against Tanasugarn.

Steve, do we have a record for the combined age of the two players involved in a WTA (or ATP) final?