Kimiko Date-Krumm outlasts Yulia Putintseva to capture title – Al Habtoor Tennis Challenge 2012
Former world number four, Kimiko Date-Krumm, battled past the Kazakhstani challenger, Yulia Putintseva, in a three-set thriller at the Al Habtoor Tennis Challenge 2012 on Saturday. She nudged up a 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 victory against the Kazakhstani teenager to capture the title at this ITF (International Tennis Federation) Women’s Circuit event taking place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Seeded eighth in this event, Date-Krumm re-kindled her 1994 spark at this outdoor hard court event. She lost her track in the second set but quickly sought her rhythm, eventually pulling out the victory in almost two and a half hour.
Date-Krumm made quick in-roads at the Habtoor Grand Beach Resort and Spa. She unleashed massive forehands to go on a five-game killing spree before the Kazakh could come on the score sheet. The Japanese plucked her serve once again and pulled out the opener with a breadstick. She was never challenged with any barrier and converted two out of three break chances to her advantage.
The 17-year-old rebounded in the following set. She smoothly held her entire serves with poise. Putintseva got the breakthrough in the second game and eventually sealed the equaliser by winning six games to three. She dusted away both breakpoints she faced and cashed the lone break chance to get back in action.
Ranked 121st in the WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) Premier Rankings, Date-Krumm re-gained her early composure. She suffered the first shock in the opening game and trailed at 0-1. However, the veteran not only recovered in the very next game but swiped her remaining serves with conviction. The Japanese availed another break of serve in the last game and subsequently clicked the decider with a 6-4 success. She warded off two out of three breakpoints she faced and cashed both break chances to steal the limelight.
As a result, the ever-green Date-Krumm managed to capture her third year-to-date title at the ITF event. Her first title came at the Quanzhou ITF event where the Japanese dumped sixth seeded Timea Babos in straight sets in the final round. The Japanese did not perform in other tournaments. However, she unleashed her true colours again at the Gifu ITF event where she grabbed her second year-to-date title.
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