Kimiko Date ends career with loss in Japan, retires at age 46
TOKYO - Kimiko Date played her last competitive match on Tuesday, losing to Aleksandra Krunic of Serbia 6-0, 6-0 in the first round of the Japan Women's Open.
The 46-year-old Date, who retired in 1996 and came back in 2008, announced last week that this would be her final tournament. She said in a blog that she has been hampered recently by pain in her knee and shoulders. She had a second surgery on her left knee in April 2016.
''I could not play my game but tried to win,'' Date said. ''It's a big memory for me to play in Tokyo. The fans here support me a lot, and of course my friends were here and my sponsors were here so it was exciting.''
Date won eight WTA titles and reached the semifinals at the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon. She reached her highest ranking of No. 4 in late 1995, behind Steffi Graf, Monica Seles and Arantxa Sanchez Vicario.
HEADLINES
- Madrid Open roundup: Alcaraz's bid to win 3rd straight title falls flat
- Swiatek rallies to reach Madrid Open semifinals again
- Madrid Open roundup: Alcaraz rolls into last 16, Sabalenka passes test
- Nadal beats De Minaur in Madrid as top-seeded Sinner, Swiatek advance
- French Open to inaugurate 2nd retractable roof ahead of Paris Olympics