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OSAKA, Japan – Tamarine Tanasugarn beat Kimiko Date Krumm 7-5, 6-7 (4), 6-1 in the Japan Women's Open final Sunday, spoiling the 40-year-old Japanese star's bid to become the oldest WTA Tour singles winner.
The 33-year-old Thai player broke the sixth-seeded Date Krumm twice in the third set to take control in a match that lasted 3 hours, 7 minutes.
Date Krumm, who turned 40 last month, was bidding to become the oldest player to win a WTA singles title. Billie Jean King won in Birmingham in 1983 when she was 39 years, 7 months, 23 days.
Date Krumm, who ended a 12-year retirement in April 2008, beat defending champion Samantha Stosur of Australia in the quarterfinals.
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