Date Krumm in first quarterfinal since more than a decade on Day 3 in Seoul

The quarterfinal line-up was set at the Hansol Korea Open on Thursday, with Kimiko Date Krumm stealing the limelight thanks to a dramatic three set win over fifth seed Alisa Kleybanova. Next up for the Japanese veteran is top seed Daniela Hantuchova, who backed up her see-saw first round win over Ayumi Morita with a rather more routine dismantling of Chanelle Scheepers.While Date Krumm's first round win had been cause for celebration - it was the first Tour main draw victory of the almost-39-year-old's comeback - it was to be expected.

Indeed, when Date Krumm lost an early break advantage to lose the first set and went down 5-2 in the second, the match assumed an air of inevitability. But although Kleybanova duly held a match point serving at 5-3, Date Krumm clawed her way back to deuce. A Russian double fault gave Date Krumm the game and the set moved to a tie-break, which Date Krumm took on her second set point with the help of a netcord. Thereafter the momentum stayed with Date Krumm, who was first to break in the final set and ultimately served it out to love, 46 76(4) 63.

Following her patchy service display against Morita on Wednesday, Hantuchova didn't face a single break point against South Africa's Scheepers, even though the Slovak star made just 55% of her first deliveries. To her credit Scheepers fought off 10 of 15 break points she faced, but still she could not dent her more illustrious foe, going down 61 61.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Singles - Second Round

(1) Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) d. Chanelle Scheepers (RSA) 61 61

Maria Kirilenko (RUS) d. (3) Francesca Schiavone (ITA) 61 12 ret. (right hamstring strain)

Kimiko Date Krumm (JPN) d. (5) Alisa Kleybanova (RUS) 46 76(4) 63

(7) Vera Dushevina (RUS) d. Anastasija Sevastova (LAT) 75 61