Date Krumm wins Korea Open a day before turning 39: Kimiko Date Krumm of Japan became the oldest winner of a WTA Tour tournament since American Billie Jean King in 1983, beating second-seeded Anabel Medina Garrigues of Spain 6-3, 6-3 for the Korea Open title Sunday in Seoul.
Today's is Date Krumm's 39th birthday. King was 39 years, 7 months, 23 days when she won an event in Birmingham, England.
"Yeah, of course, very happy," said Date Krumm, who has eight singles titles in her career but hadn't won a tournament since 1996. "I realized one more time after this game that we don't know about tennis unless we actually play it."
Date Krumm, who has been ranked as high as fourth in the world, left the sport in 1996 before returning last year. She entered the Korea Open ranked 155th.
Date Krumm beat top-seeded Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia 7-6 (7-3), 4-6, 6-4 in the quarterfinals and defeated defending champion Maria Kirilenko of Russia 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 in the semifinals.
In discussing her career timetable, Date Krumm said, "I think I won't have any problem in my physical strength over the next five years. But I'm married ... have to have kids and have a lot of things to do. I think I can play tennis for the next two years."
Monfils prevails: Top-seeded Gael Monfils of France ended a four-year title drought with a 7-6 (7-1), 3-6, 6-2 victory over Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany in the Open de Moselle final in Metz, France. Monfils improved to 2-6 in ATP finals; he won his first title in Sopot, Poland, in 2005.
"For a long time, people spoke about my lost finals," said the 23-year-old Monfils, who is ranked 13th in the world. "But now the curse is over. I'm happy with this victory. I managed to win, and on top of that it was in France."
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