Dubai: Japanese veteran Kimiko Date-Krumm became the oldest winner of the Al Habtoor Tennis Challenge with a hard-fought 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 final victory over Kazakhstan teenager Yulia Putintseva at the Habtoor Grand Resort and Spa on Saturday.
In doing so, the 42-year-old became the third Asian player in a row to win the singles title here after Sania Mirza (2010) and Noppowan Lertcheewakarn (2011). Indonesia’s Angelique Widjaja is the only other Asian to have won the singles in the 15 years of this tournament.
“I am coming back next year,” Date-Krumm told media after accepting her trophy from Khalaf Al Habtoor, Chairman of the Habtoor Group of Companies, in the presence of Mohammad Al Habtoor, Vice Chairman of the Khalaf Group of Companies, and former world number one Jelena Jankovic.
“This has been such an injury-filled year that I am glad I can sign off on a winning note,” the 42-year-old added.
Beaten by a clever player, 17-year-old Putintseva, who nationalities from Russia to Kazakhstan in May this year, accepted defeat graciously. “It felt like I have just been beaten by my grandmother,” she joked.
Putintseva was off to a quick start, cashing in on a double fault from Date-Krumm to lead 1-0. But the Japanese stayed patient and broke back to level and then won the next five games to win the set 6-1.
Date-Krumm broke in third and held for a 3-1 lead, but suddenly saw the tiny Kazakh – coached by former world number one Martina Hingis - come to life as she broke back and reeled off the next three games to win the set 6-3.
In the decider, Date-Krumm once again took the advantage for a 3-0 cushion only to see Putintseva claw back with some tremendous play to break back in the ninth game. However, a medical time-out for the Japanese seemed to prove crucial for both as Date-Krumm gave it all even as the Kazakhstan showed signs of slowing down.
Past champions who have made it big on the WTA after winning this $75,000 ITF Women’s Circuit Tournament include Jelena Jankovic (2003), Marion Bartoli (2005), Maria Kirilenko (2007) and Sania Mirza (2010).
“I am so tired that I feel I am going to collapse,” Date-Krumm said after her tenth match in eleven days on the circuit.
Earlier, former junior Wimbledon champion Vera Dushevina combined with Italian Maria-Elena Camerin to win 7-5, 6-3 against Eva Hrdinova and Karolina Pliskova to claim the doubles crown.
