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Wickmayer outstays Date-Krumm
Take that: Yanina Wickmayer of Belgium hits a return against Kimiko Date- Krumm of Japan during WTA Bali Open tennis tournament round-robin at Nusa Dua, Bali, on Wednesday
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span class="inline inline-center">Take that: Yanina Wickmayer of Belgium hits a return against Kimiko Date- Krumm of Japan during WTA Bali Open tennis tournament round-robin at Nusa Dua, Bali, on Wednesday. Wickmayer won 7-6, 6-3. JP/Ricky Yudhistira
Belgium’s Janina Wickmayer was forced to draw on her power and mental strength to overcome the experience and wiles of Kimiko Date-Krumm on Wednesday in Group C of the round-robin tournament.
In the second match of the day, Date-Krumm, 39, disrupted the 18th ranked Belgian’s timing by taking the ball on the rise.
The Japanese player, who was given a wildcard to play in the tournament, forced a tiebreak in the first set. Although she lost it, she broke early in the second to open up a 3-0 lead.
It was then that the 20-year-old Wickmayer, a surprise US Open semifinalist this year, showed maturity beyond her years by stepping up the quality of her play and winning six consecutive games for a 7-6 (5), 6-3 victory.
Date-Krumm blamed her inconsistency in failing to convert on her chances, as well as crediting the play of her younger opponent.
“I would break, but then I couldn’t hold my own serve,” Date-Krumm said. “I think I played the tiebreak a bit too aggressively. In the second set, when I was ahead, she started playing deeper and my balls started falling shorter.”
Wickmayer said she was not surprised by Date-Krumm’s form despite her ranking of 101.
“I’ve seen her play and practice before, and I know that she is a very fit and smart player,” she said. “You can see why she was once one of the best players in the world.”
There is still a slim chance Date-Krumm can qualify for Saturday’s semifinals if she wins her next match against Anabel Medina-Garrigues, who she defeated on the way to winning the Seoul tournament in September but lost to in Guangzhou, and if Wickmayer also loses to the Spaniard.
“I know she’ll try something different when we play this time, so I’ll have to be ready for that,” Date-Krumm said of her match, scheduled for Thursday night.
— JP/Bruce Emond
Thursday’s Order of Play
(matches begin at 2 p.m.)
Shahar Peer (ISR) vs Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK)
Melinda Czink vs Aravane Rezai (FRA)
Evening Session
(not before 6:30 p.m.)
Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez (ESP) vs Agnes Szavay (HUN)
Anabel Medina-Garrigues (ESP) vs Kimiko Date-Krumm
