Kimiko Date-Krumm stuns Misaki Doi to reach the semi-final – Royal Indian Open 2012
In the all-Japanese clash at the Royal Indian Open, Kimiko Date-Krumm registered a thumping straight sets victory over the second seed Misaki Doi on Friday. The 42-year-old veteran took 76 minutes to wrap up the proceedings at
6-1, 6-4, marching into the semi-final round of the WTA Challenger Series event in Pune, India.
A tough battle was anticipated between the two fellow compatriots but Date-Krumm made it look relatively comprehensive for her. She had no real trouble in racing through the opening set, sparing merely one game for Doi and getting
in the driving seat. The second seeded Japanese post some late resistance in the following set but her fifth seeded senior rival was already on her way to the finishing line. Date-Krumm convincingly raced past Doi to seal a berth in the round of four at the
Royal Indian Open.
"Today was mentally very tough," Date-Krumm said. "She has improved so much this year and it's also tough to play another player from Japan. I think it was difficult for her too and I could tell she was getting nervous at the end
of the second set. I was pretty tired after all my matches this week, so I'm very happy it was over in just two sets!"
Date-Krumm had the most impressive start to the Friday’s encounter, breaking Doi in two successive serve games to rocket away to a 4-0 lead in no time. The second seed Japanese held her serve for the first time in the fifth game
but couldn’t do anything to curtail her opponent’s lead in the set. Another cracking break point conversion from Date-Krumm in the seventh games concluded the first set at 6-1 in her favour.
Doi made a thumping comeback in the following set by breaking the 42-year-old counterpart’s serve in the opening game. Date-Krum broke Doi’s serve in the sixth game, only to be broken in the very next game but retaliated with two
successive serve breaks to mark an end to the second seed’s voyage in the tournament at 6-4.
Date-Krumm will face the eighth seeded Thai contestant, Tamarine Tanasugarn, in the semi-final round.
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