Despite being a two time quarterfinalist the 38 year old Kimiko Date-Krumm will be in the qualifying tournament at this year's U.S. Open. Now ranked #160 in the world, Date-Krumm opens her campaign against Ekaterina Ivanova seeded #21. This is the third grand slam qualifier Date-Krumm will have played this year, having qualified for the Australian Open, and retiring in her opening match at Roland Garros.

If you have missed Kimiko Date-Krumm's comeback it's been nothing short of amazing, but certainly could be better. After retiring in 1996, Date-Krumm came back to the tour last season after exhibitions against Martina Navratilova and Steffi Graf renewed her competitive spirit for the game. In her first tournament in 12 years Date-Krumm not only came through qualifying at the $50,000 Gifu ITF Challenger, but made it all the way to the final! It wasn't until her 8th match of the week against Tamarine Tanasugarn did Date-Krumm lose, in a tight three setter. This tournament was played on synthetic grass, and Tanasugarn a grass court specialist, would win s'Hertogenbosch and make the QFs of Wimbledon just a few weeks later.

Date-Krumm focused on ITF challengers in Japan for most of 2008, winning a $10,000 event and winning two $25,000 events. She finally set sights on her first WTA event at Tier I Tokyo, where she received a wildcard into qualifying. In just three months after her return to tour, Date-Krumm made it to the final round of qualifying, dispatching a top 50 Casey Dellacqua on the way. She would lose to the 2008 Stanford Champ in the final round, but a good week was had! A seemingly tired Date-Krumm didn't find much success for the rest of 2008, but turn it up in 2009.

Qualifying for the Australian Open (defeating 5th seed Maret Ani) was impressive. Nearly upsetting the 25th seed Kaia Kanepi (losing 6-8 in the third) was astounding. She had a pretty quiet year after that, but did win her biggest title since her comeback at the $75,000 Monzon challenger. After an injury setback saw her fall in the opening qualifying match at Roland Garros, Date-Krumm came to Wimbledon with high hopes. If there was a surface where her compact game, and flat strokes could shine, it was the lawns at Wimbledon. She did not dissapoint.

Despite having a nightmare draw, playing 9th seed Danish teenager Caroline Wozniacki, Date-Krumm came ready to stun. Winning the first set, and going up a break in the sad. Alas the 38 year old could not maintain that level and could not sustain it for a win, but another close call in a major. Date-Krumm would continue her struggles in closing out a match after qualifying for the Los Angeles tournament, losing to Sabine Lisicki the 17th seed, 7-5 in the third.

Kimiko has had a great comeback, but has been so close to having an amazing one. Let's see if she can finally put it together this week, and qualify and hopefully win her first main draw match on the main tour, in 13 years.