Kimiko Date still kick ass at 39

I don't mean to be rude to Dinara Safina with this headline.

But her lost to Japanese veteran Kimiko Date Krumm, who is just 4 months short of her 40th birthday, in the first round at the French Open comes as a huge shock!

Kimiko beats Safina 3-6, 6-4, 7-5.

Kimiko made her Roland Garros debut back in 1989, when Safina was only three.

With the victory over the former world no.1, Kimiko becomes the second oldest player after Britain's Virginia Wade to win a main draw women's singles match in Paris since the game turned pro.

Congrats to Kimiko for the win!

(Image via nikkansports.com, Sina Sports)

Li Na, Kimiko Date, Klepac, Kapshay, Marosi, Jurak at Pro-Am Tennis Tourney

Six professional and four amateur players participated in the WTA Malaysian Open 2010’s inaugural Pro-Am this morning at the Bukit Kiara Equestrian & Country Resort.

The pro players were Li Na, Kimiko Date-Krumm, Andreja Klepac, Veronika Kapshay, Katalin Marosi and Darija Jurak. The amateur players including Y.Bhg. Dato’ Ahmad Shabery Cheek, Minister of Youth and Sports and renowned local singer Ning Baizura.

Local celebrity Ning Baizura getting signatures from Jurak and Kimiko.

After the match, my sister managed to take picture with her idols Li Na and Kimiko.

Ain't Li Na cute with that smiley face? And Kimiko sure knows how to pose for an elegant shot ;)

(Images by Carbon Media, HSFoo)

Amanmuradova, Kustova, Scheepers, Zhang Shuai, Kimiko Date, Grandin & Diatchenko visit children's home

Seven players from the WTA Malaysian Open 2010 visited the Taman Megah’s Handicapped & Disabled Children’s Home yesterday, bringing smiles to the underprivileged kids living there.

They were Akgul Amanmuradova, Darya Kustova, Chanelle Scheepers, Zhang Shuai, Kimiko Date-Krumm, Natalie Grandin and Vitalia Diatchenko who handed out oranges and goodie bags to the kids.

Chanelle Scheepers handing out oranges to people at the Home.

Kimiko Date-Krumm handing out goodie bags.

(Images by Carbon Media)

Kimiko Date-Krumm out of Malaysian Open but in for the spa

Kimiko Date-Krumm may have pulled out from the Malaysian Open 2010 due to ankle injury but she is still committed to the tournament's promotional event.

Together with Andreja Klepac, they spent a relaxing day at The Golden Horses Health Sanctuary yesterday's afternoon, receiving pampering foot reflexology spa treatment.

(Images by Carbon Media)

WTA Malaysian Open 2010 officially kicks off!

I had a soaking wet yet awesome time at the Malaysian Open 2010 yesterday. Met a lot of friends whom I got to know from ATP Malaysian Open last year.

Especially thanks to Dunlop Sporting Goods director Mr Alan Tang who gave me tickets for the entire tournament week. Now I have a lot of ticket allocation job to be done so that most friends, if not all have the opportunity to witness this inaugural tournament.

It was really hot at the tournament site. So my advice is don't dress in black, wear a cap and bring mini towel, umbrella and enough WATER!

So, yesterday, the four qualifier spots in the main draw of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Malaysian Open 2010 were decided today at the Bukit Kiara Equestrian & Country Club.

The singles matches of the main draw also kicked off in the afternoon, even though there was a brief delay due to rain.

Ksenia Pervak, Anna Gerasimou, Yurika Sema and Elena Bovina all overcame their opponents in the final round of qualifying and will continue to battle in the US$220,000 tournament.

Check out the complete Main Draw singles here.

Click on image for larger view

In yesterday's earlier singles Main Draw, Anastasia Rodionova defeated 8th seed Belarusian Olga Govortsova 6-4, 0-6, 7-5 while another Belarusian Darya Kustova fell to Ekaterina Ivanova, also in three sets.

The Official Opening Ceremony of the event also took place yesterday evening on Centre Court with Y.Bhg. Dato’ Ahmad Shabery Cheek, Minister of Youth and Sports, in attendance as the Guest-of-Honour.

He officially opened the tournament after a lion dance performance and a short sparring session with Kimiko Date-Krumm as his partner against China’s Li Na and Yan Zi.

Today's singles matches will feature the tournament’s 1st seed Elena Dementieva and 2nd seed Li Na in action.

Check out the OOP for Day 2 below.

Click on image for larger view

Other highlights for today include a players’ visit to The Mines Resort & Golf Club at 11AM as well as two autograph sessions which will be held at 4.30PM and 730PM in the Bukit Kiara Equestrian & Country Resort Sponsors Village.

(Images by Carbon Media)

Sake barrel cracking ceremony without the REAL Samurai

It only takes one player to complete this group.

The REAL Samurai, Sam Querrey!

However the rising son of America has been sidelined for four-to-six weeks after injuring his right forearm in a freak accident in Bangkok.

He could have joined Gael Monfils, Kimiko Date Krumm, Ayumi Morita, Juan Martin Del Potro, Lleyton Hewitt, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, to crack the sake barrels during a welcome reception on Day 2 of the Rakuten Japan Open Tennis tournament at Hotel Grand Pacific Le Daiba yesterday.


(Images by Kiyoshi Ota/Getty Images)

'AIG SUNDAY' packed with 10,000 tennis fans

The pre-tournament event at the AIG Sunday saw an attendance of about 10,000 tennis fans.

The event saw the practice sessions of Kei Nishikori (錦織 圭) vs Go Soeda and Kimiko Date vs Ayumi Morita as well as exhibition doubles match between Takao Suzuki/Satoshi Iwabuchi vs David Ferrer/Tommy Robredo.

The exhibition match between world No. 1 wheelchair tennis player (also Paralympic gold medallist) Shingo Kunieda and Satoshi Saida was also on schedule but it was canceled at the last minute due to Kunieda's elbow injury.

Here are some photos from the event.

Kei Nishikori and Go Soeda

Kimiko Date is still very much popular with the tennis fans

(From left to right) David Ferrer, Tommy Robredo, Satoshi Iwabuchi and Takao Suzuki

Kei Nisihikori with Paralympic gold medallist, Shingo Kunieda

(Via jta.blog.so-net.ne.jp)