Kimiko Date

Date of Birth | 9/28/1970 |
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Place of Birth | Kyoto, Japan |
Residence | Tokyo & Monaco |
Nationality | Japan |
Height | 164cm (5’4″) |
Weight | 55kg (121 lbs) |
Plays | Right-handed (2-handed backhand) |
Turned Pro | 1989 |
Retired | November 1996 |
Returned Pro | April 2008 |
Started Playing Tennis | Age of 6 |
ProTennis Player

Kimiko started playing tennis when she entered elementary school. While a senior at Sonoda Gakuen High School in Hyogo Prefecture, Kimiko captured a triple-crown title by winning in the singles, doubles, and team competitions at the 1988 National Inter-High-School Tennis Tournament. She turned professional as soon as she graduated from high school in 1989. The following year in 1990, she achieved an incredible task of reaching 4th round at the Australian Open. At the 1993 US Open, she was a quarterfinalist, and in the following year, she won her first overseas tournament at the 1994 NSW Open in Sydney which made her the first Japanese player to achieve the top 10 WTA Ranking (ranked No. 9). In 1995 she was ranked No. 4 in the WTA Ranking. The following year in 1996, she defeated No. 1 WTA Ranking player, Steffi Graf, in the Fed Cup singles match played at the Ariake Coliseum. At the Wimbledon, the two met in the semifinals and since neither gave in to the other, the match prolonged until sunset and had to be carried over to the next day. After a hard 2-day's battle, Steffi Graf captured her place in the finals. In November of 1996, after losing to a 16 year old, Martina Hingis at the Chase Championships, Kimiko retired from the WTA Tour. She had maintained her top 10 ranking from 1994 to 1996. Her ranking was No. 9 at the time of her retirement.
In April 2008 Kimiko declared her intention to "take on a new challenge" as a professional tennis player. In the first year of her return, she won both singles and doubles at All Japan Tennis. Since then, she has proceeded to take on new challenges on world tours and in 2009, won the WTA Hansol Korea Open.
In April 2008 Kimiko declared her intention to "take on a new challenge" as a professional tennis player. In the first year of her return, she won both singles and doubles at All Japan Tennis. Since then, she has proceeded to take on new challenges on world tours and in 2009, won the WTA Hansol Korea Open.
Career Highlights
2013 | Won at WTA Pattaya Open Doubles Won at WTA Whirlpool Monterrey Open Doubles Won at WTA Internationaux de Strasbourg Doubles |
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2012 | Won at ITF QUANZHOU – CHINA Won at ITF KANGAROO CUP INTERNATIONAL LADIES OPEN 2012 Won at ITF DUBAI – UAE Won at WTA E-BOKS OPEN Doubles |
2011 | Won at ITF Poitiers – France Won at WTA HP Women's Doubles |
2010 | Bronze Medalist of Canton Asian Cup Runner-up at WTA HP Women's Open |
2009 | Won at ITF Dunlop World Challenge Won at WTA Hansol Korea Open Won at ITF Monzon – Spain |
2008 | Won at All Japan Tennis Won at ITF Tokyo Ariake International Women's Open Won at ITF Miyazaki International Women's Challenge Won at ITF Tokachi/Obihiro International Women's Open |
1996 | Won at WTA Japan Open Semifinalist at Wimbledon Won at WTA Toshiba Classic |
1995 | Won at WTA Toray Pan Pacific Open Quarterfinalist at Roland Garros |
1994 | Won at WTA New South Wales Open Quarterfinalist at Australian Open Won at WTA Japan Open Gold Medalist of Hiroshima Asian Cup |
1993 | Won at WTA Japan Open |
1992 | Won at WTA Japan Open |
Awards
2013 |
Kyoto Pref. Akebono Award Special Award International Brandlaureate Brand Personality Award |
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2010 | ITF Heart Award Mainichi Sports Newspaper Most Impressive Athlete Award Selected ‘Most Valuable Tennis Player’ by the 60th Japan Sports Award |
2009 | Selected ‘Professional of the Year’ by Japan Professional Tennis Association |
2008 | Japan Professional Athletes Special Award |
2001 | The Best Asian Female Player of the 20th Century |
1999 | Selected ‘Jeans Fashion Leader’ by Japan Jeans Association |
1996 | Honorary Special Sports Award given by Kyoto Municipal |
1995 | Japan Professional Sports Award for Outstanding Performance |
1994 | Shiga Prefectural Sports Award Tokyo Citizens' Honorary Award Japan Professional Athletes Special Award Japan Fair Play Award Japan Tennis Association's Most Valuable Player Award |
1993 | ‘The Best Smile of the Year’ Award given by the Japan Dentistry Association |
1992 | The Best Dresser Award by Men’s Fashion Association |