At 47, Date retires after double bagel

TOKYO: Japan’s Kimiko Date, the grande dame of women’s tennis, bowed out of the sport after being thrashed 6-0, 6-0 by Aleksandra Krunic at the Japan Women’s Open on Tuesday.

Date who turns 47 later this month, was simply no match for a Serbian opponent.

Krunic took just 49 minutes to inflict the dreaded “double bagel” on Date in a lop-sided first round encounter in Tokyo.

Krunic continued to swing away from the baseline and put the former Wimbledon semi-finalist out of her misery with a huge forehand which Date could only dump into the net.

“It’s finally over,” a tearful Date told fans, many of whom were sobbing themselves.

“I feel sad mostly I guess but also really grateful for what tennis has given me,” said the eighttime WTA Tour singles champion, who took a 12-year hiatus from professional tennis after quitting at the peak of her powers in 1996.

“A lot of things were going through my head this morning but during the match I was just trying everything I could to win a game,” said Date.

“I just didn’t have it physically. It feels strange to be retired but I have to accept it. At the end I was relieved I hadn’t made my shoulder worse.”

NERVOUS WRECK

After warming up to Donna Summer’s “Hot Stuff”, Date was anything but Nervous but Aleksandra Krunic, who after embracing Date told her she had started the match as a nervous wreck.

“I want to apologise,” she said after completing the whitewash. “I don’t like that I had to be the one but Kimiko has had a great career.

“I was a mess at the beginning,” added Krunic, who next faces American Alison Riske.

“When I go back to the locker room, I’ll probably cry.” Said Krunic.

I just didn’t have it physically. It feels strange to be retired but I have to accept it. At the end I was relieved I hadn’t made my shoulder worse. KIMIKO DATE, on her match