Date-Krumm sees off ‘exceptional talent’ Putintseva in Dubai final

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Kimiko Date-Krumm made sure she had the “perfect” ending to 2012 as she fought off the feisty 17-year-old Yulia Putintseva to win the 15th Al Habtoor Tennis Challenge in Dubai on Saturday afternoon.

    Date-Krumm, who was playing her third final in four weeks, was hoping to end a difficult year on a high and the 42-year-old Japanese had to fight hard before overcoming a resilient Putintseva.

    “Tough match. 2012, finished with me as a winner, it’s perfect, I can’t say anything,” an emotional and out of breath Date-Krumm said after her 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 final victory.

    “It was a very very tough year for me. Injuries, no wins for a long time, and since India, I was in the final, then twice in the final, always losing in the final, every time I lost I kept thinking ‘maybe it’s God saying it’s better to stop’.

    “But today I tried to fight. I didn’t care about the result, just try to fight until the end. And I did that. I started cramping. It was very difficult to move, it was quite scary how strong the cramps were coming.

    “And Putintseva never gave up. She kept getting every ball. It was physically and mentally very tough.”

    Putintseva, whose explosive temperament on court has entertained many spectators this week, survived a long day where she battled through her rain-postponed semi-final in the morning, winning in three sets against Kristyna Pliskova, before returning to the court to take on Date-Krumm in the final.

    The unseeded Russian-born Kazakh took out seeds No2, No6 and No5 en route to the final, all in three sets, and was gunning for No8 seed Date-Krumm to add a third title to her season.

    But Putintseva was unable to finish the job despite breaking the veteran while serving for the match in the final set.

    “I feel like a kid who was beaten by a smart player,” Putintseva said sarcastically after the match. “She played great. It wasn’t my day. I played five sets today because the organisers decided to schedule me for two matches today. So I’m feeling like a man who played five sets and probably going to practice tomorrow.

    “But I was fighting at least, until the end no matter what I was feeling. That was a good thing, but the bad thing is that I lost the final.”

    Big future ahead for teen

    The world No125 can find solace, however, in the fact that her final showing in Dubai will boost her ranking and has earned her a spot at next month’s Australian Open, which will be her first Grand Slam main draw appearance.

    “I’m looking forward to the Australian Open,” says Putintseva, who has been training at the acclaimed Patrick Mouratoglou Academy in Paris, and had Swiss legend Martina Hingis in her corner all week.

    “I’m in the main draw. Hopefully I won’t play with Serena Williams in the first round, but if it happens, I will try to win anyway.”

    Guest of honour and 2003 AHTC champion Jelena Jankovic believes Putintseva is a bright prospect in women’s tennis. The former world No1 said: “She’s a young player, has great potential, she’s going to be a great player in the future.”

    Meanwhile, Date-Krumm said she will spend her sole day off in Dubai by going sunset camel-riding in the desert before resuming practice on Tuesday back in Japan.

    The doubles title was won by Maria-Elena Camerin and Vera Dushevina, who beat Czech duo Eva Hrdinova and Karolina Pliskova 7-5, 6-3.

    * For breaking news, follow us on @Sport_360 or find us on Facebook.

    Recommended