The oldest player on the WTA tour is not done yet. As she prepares to turn 46 years old on Wednesday, Kimiko Date-Krumm's planned comeback from knee surgery is still on.
The former No. 5, who took a 12-year hiatus from the tour before starting her career again at 37, underwent two procedures in the first half of the season.
"I have been told it will take a year, and it’s just a case of how much more or less time it will be than that," Date told press in Tokyo, adding that she is still not fully training again. "Everything has gone well, up to this point... [but] as an athlete you have to condition muscle and I want the injury to properly heal."
Date-Krumm was ranked in the Top 150 at the beginning of the season, but has dropped to No. 492 since being sidelined. Date will be eligible for a protected ranking in her return to tour.