Date-Krumm to make Fed Cup return
Date published :
22 Dec 2009 - 10:38:26
Kimiko Date-Krumm is set to make her first appearance in Fed Cup by BNP Paribas for 14 years after being selected for Japan's 2010 campaign.
Date-Krumm made her Fed Cup debut in 1989 against Sweden and played 21 rubbers during a seven-year period, compiling a 13-8 winning record. "It has yet to sink in that I am going to carry the national flag," said the 39-year-old. "But I hope that Japanese tennis will move forward and I want to contribute to the team."
In 1996, Date-Krumm was a member of Japan's most successful ever team, beating Germany in the first round before losing to USA, the eventual champion, in the semifinals her last appearance.
In the tie against Germany, a hard fought 3-2 victory in Nagoya, she defeated Anke Huber 46 64 61 and Steffi Graf 76(7) 36 1210. The win was sealed by Ai Sugiyama and Kyoko Nagatsuka in the decisive doubles rubber. Date-Krumm, who enjoyed three years in the Top 10 during the mid 1990s, retired at the end of 1996 and waited 12 years before making her comeback.
In 2009, she clinched her eighth career title, winning at the Korean Open in September. Japan's Fed Cup team will travel to Kuala Lumpur in February to compete in Asia/Oceania Zone Group I. The format sees eight nations split into two pools with the winners facing each other for the right to progress to the World Group II play-offs in April.Takeshi Murakami, the captain of the Japanese team, has selected Date-Krumm alongside Ayumi Morita, Rika Fujiwara and Yurika Sema. At No. 69 in the world, Date-Krumm is the highest ranked player in the squad.
