Date-Krumm stuns Petrova to become oldest Melbourne winner

Reuters: Japan’s Kimiko Date-Krumm produced the biggest shock of the Australian Open so far on Tuesday when she unseated 12 seed Nadia Petrova 6-2, 6-0 to become the oldest winner of a women’s singles match at the tournament.

The 42-year-old, playing her 11 Australian Open 23 years after her debut, was well worth the quick-fire victory, which she sealed on her second match point when her Russian opponent hit a forehand wide.

Date-Krumm reached the semi-finals at Melbourne Park in 1994, where she lost to Steffi Graff, but had not won a match at the year’s first grand slam since returning after a gap of 12 years in 2009.

The world number 100 will face Shahar Peer of Israel or another Russian in Alexandra Panova in the second round.