UNPREDICTABLE, strange and downright brilliant. The spark to light up this year’s Wimbledon came from the most unlikely of sources – 40-year-old Kimiko Date-Krumm.
The Japanese veteran, who took a 12-year sabbatical from the game in 1996, had no right to trouble the seven-time Grand Slam champion. With no obvious weapons, a poor start to 2011 and giving away eight inches to her illustrious opponent, this should have been little more than a training exercise for Venus Williams.
As Williams strode out onto Centre Court she would have expected a swift match, on the path to full match fitness.
But Date-Krumm stole a march on Williams. It was a relative ambush, as she surged to a 5-1 lead in the first set before Williams could even take stock of her perilous situation.
But, all credit to Williams, she held her nerve and at 3-5, her early nap looked like a blip on her way to the third round.
But Date-Krumm, probably the only one on the court who genuinely believed an upset was on – judging by the disbelieving smiles from her support team – refused to roll over.
The match defied age, logic and the naysayers of the women’s game – myself included.
Date-Krumm’s all-round court craft and the way she traded blows, and survived, from the baseline confounded the assertions that you need to strike the ball with venom and be close to 6ft to compete at the highest level on the women’s tour.
The swerving slice, net game and athleticism of Date-Krumm was a throwback to bygone Wimbledons and a welcome contrast to the way in which most women are rooted to the back of the court.
But as is so often the case, David could not quite finish off Goliath in his death throes.
Although the match was always going to strike a chord with the British crowd thanks to Date-Krumm’s underdog status, it was the contrast of styles and array of skill on show which truly gripped us.
It took this match for people to sit up and take note, the quality of the women’s game is not in doubt, it is simply the variety of tennis on show which is lacking.
Net-charging Date-Krumm and sly Francesca Schiavone, the women’s game needs you, if only to provide the foil to others’ greatness.
Through My Mill 