Kimiko Date Krumm of Japan hits a return shot to Ana Ivanovic of Serbia at the semifinal tennis match at the Tournament of Champions in Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia, Saturday, Nov. 6, 2010. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati)
"Just like any other tennis player, I want to come up with good results in Grand Slam events," Date Krumm said Sunday after a semifinal loss to China's Peng Shuai at the Asian Games.
"This year I won one match at the French Open, but I lost in the first round in the other three Grand Slam events, partly because I had to face seeded players. But next year I'll try to perform better."
Date Krumm was nowhere in the WTA rankings when she came out of retirement in April 2008 -- 12 years after she called time on her career.
But she has surprised the world by outperforming much younger players and upsetting some of the game's top players such as Maria Sharapova and Dinara Safina.
She even won the Korea Open in September 2009 on the eve of her 39th birthday, making her the second-oldest woman in tennis history after Billie Jean King to capture a WTA Tour singles title. King won at Birmingham in 1983 at 39 years and 7 months.
The Asian Games in Guangzhou, southern China, marked the end of her 2010 season.
"I struggled with muscle spasms in my legs last year, but I didn't this year. It's a big confidence boost," said the former world No. 4 player. "I'll continue my challenge into next year on the WTA Tour.
"I don't know how long I can stay active. Every day I'll try not to get injured. I'll just have to see if I can get through another long, tough season, and I'll go from there."
Date Krumm was attempting to win her first singles title since she won 16 years ago in Hiroshima, but home favorite Peng took advantage of her shaky serving to win 7-6(6), 3-6, 6-2.
In the past Grand Slam events, she reached the semifinals in the 1994 Australian Open, the 1995 French Open and the 1996 Wimbledon Championships.
(Mainichi Japan) November 22, 2010
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