Date Krumm stuns Safina in first round of Roland Garros

Seniors Tour her ass.

Thirty-nine year old Kimiko Date Krumm made it seem like the 1990's all over again - complete with a continental FH - when she shocked last year's finalist Dinara Safina in the first round of Roland Garros today. The Japanese lady baller hobbled back on one good leg (she had her right calf heavily taped) from 1-4 down in the decider to earn the big win. She became the second-oldest woman to win a match at Roland Garros in the Open Era after Virginia Wade in 1985. Awesome.

Kimi will face Aussie Jarmila Groth for a spot in the third round.


She knew, as we all did watching, that her Russian foe was feeling the moment:

"I didn't want to stop," Date Krumm said. "My condition was very bad, but she was getting a little nervous, and she started making mistakes. So I tried many things, like drop shots and hitting wider, slower... and she kept making mistakes. I tried everything."

As for Dinara it was a disastrous performance particularly by PUTA!, her nasty wayward serve that gave up 17 double faults. She'll most likely fall back into the 20's when the rankings are released after RG. Add to this her split from coach Zeljko Krajan prior to the start of the tourney and her recent injury woes and you have one scattered lady baller on your racquet.

P.S. Loving the adidas duds Kimi!

[Photo(s): Getty Images]