Copyright © 1995-97 Clas G. Bystedt Updated: 15 Jan.'97

This is a very modest start to a new page on Kimiko's site. I call it STORIES reflecting the idea that this page would contain articles, interviews and other stuff about Kimiko after her retirement. N ow there's just a few articles, but check back, promise that there will be much more. If you know of any good story that could be of interest to other Kimiko fans, mail me!

Tennis Magazine Dec'96 by Donna Doherty The Final Word - Kimiko’s Date With Destiny Reuters 20 Nov '96 by Larry Fine Date delays retirement with victory over Seles New York Times 19 Nov '96 by Robin Finn A Satisfied Date Is Stepping Down From Tennis Heights Exposure Online October by Jackie M. Tanner DON'T GO, KIMIKO!

Tokyo, 26 Sep '96 RETIREMENT PRESS CONFERENCE Asahi Evening News 23 Nov '96 by Bryant Rousseau NO REGRETS

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November 23, 1996 NO REGRETS By Bryant Rousseau, Special to Asahi Evening News. NEW YORK- Kimiko Date's marriage to professional tennis didn't last into her golden years. But their amicable divorce, she said, came at just the right time-before boredom and bitterness could set in and spoil all the good memories. I always wanted to play at the end of my career like I did in the beginning, genuinely liking tennis," Date said before playing her quarter-final match against Martina Hingis. 'There was a time when I had begun to dislike the game, and I think it would have been terrible to leave with those feelings. But I am enjoying my final tournament, so I have no regrets whatsoever about my decision to retire. None. "It wasn't even a hard decision. I think I'll ever miss the game so much that I'll want to come back. From now on, when I play tennis it will be to have fun with my friends." And when Date, 26, regales her grandchildren with stories of the pro tour, she said, she will have plenty of happy moments to choose from. "I have so many enjoyable experiences and so many matches to remember," she said. But there were three that left the greatest impressions: The first is when I played (Steffi) Graf on Center Court at Wimbledon, the second is the Fed Cup in April of this year, when I beat Graf in Tokyo. The third is when I beat (Gabriela) Sabatini in '91. 'Those are the ones I especially remember." The Sabatini match was perhaps the turning point in her career, providing a psychological boost for her game that sent her rocketing from nowhere to her current star-status and top-1O ranking. And the victory over Graf was unforgettably satisfying. "Before the Fed Cup, I never really dreamed of a victory over her because she's in such a special class. And it was always a challenge for me to play in Japan becauseof the intense pressure. Tennis gave her the chance, Date said, to make friends all over the world, experience different cultures and visit historic places, but the high-octane world of professional tennis also had its dark side. "When I was injured and couldn't win tournaments, some players who had been very close when I was in top form turned their backs and stayed away from me. That was the most difficult time of my career. Many fans of Japanese tennis have expressed concern that the loss of Date means a mediocre future on the courts for the country. Not only does the lone Japanese name drop out of the top 10, but there is some fear that without Date as a role model, young players in Japan might putdown their rackets. Date, however, disagrees with this. "There are many Japanese players in the top 50 and 100," she said, "and there are a lot of juniors, rising players who are coming up fast. I don't think my retirement will damage Japanese tennis" What advice would Date give her Japanese proteges? "Being in the top 10, I have felt a lot of pressure, so I would tell the younger players to relax more, to enjoy being on the tour." Although there were many reasons behind Date's decision to hang up her racket, certainly a key one were the changes the women's tour is introducing next year in the way that rankings are determined. The new system will put a premium on playing, requiring top pros to commit to at least 12 tournaments plus the tour Grand Slams. Many of the top players complain that this is too much, and point to Date's retirement as one of the consequences of the new system. Date agreed that the tournament and travel demands imposed by the tour are tough, especially for Asian players. "To be frank, Japanese players are at a geographical disadvantage because we have to travel so far and there is always a time difference, so we suffer from jet lag. Most of the tournaments are in Europe or America. If the WTA could stage more of the tournaments in Asia, things would be better." Date's immtdiate plans are to rest and reflect on what she wishes to do with the rest of her life. She has yet to define any long-term goals. She said that she wants to have two children-a girl and a boy-but declined to say whether she wanted to have them with Kiichi Nakai, the actor who is often identified as her fiance. She's obviously excited about enjoying her new found freedom. "Since announcing my retirement, I have become mentally very relaxed. I haven't had to practice so much, and there is no need to wake up early worrying about what I should do or where I must be. I can use my time however I like. "I worked hard for a long time to accomplish what I did in tennis," she said, "but my biggest loss would be if I had no life outside the game. Copyright 1996 Asahi Evening News

Tennis Magazine, December 1996 The Final Word Kimiko’s Date With Destiny By Donna Doherty, Editor Tennis Magazine What’s wrong with this picture? You’re a 26-year old on the pro tour. In 1993 you became the first Japanese woman to make the final in Tokyo. The following year , you were the first Japanese woman in 21 years to reach the semifinals of a Grand Slam tournament (the Australian Open). At the French Open a year later, you became the first Japanese women to make the semis of that Slam. You have been ranked as high as No. 4 in the world and now are ranked No. 7, as you complete another fine year in your eight-year career. IN fact, this past year you became the first person from your country to make the semifinals of Wimbledon-your personal best in that championship. In doing that, you were the only player to take a set off eventual champion Steffi Graf, and earlier in 1996 you were the first player of only three this year to beat Graf. In Japan, you are considered royalty, with the endorsement bucks commensurate to you status. So what’s your next step? If you’re Kimiko Date, the proud owner of the above list of accomplishments, It’s retirement. Yes, retirement. When I first heard that Date planned to retire after the WTA Tour Championships in Mid November, I thought there must be some mistake. Date is one of the most consistent players on the tour, a dogged competitor who has maximized a limited game with court smarts and patience, a graceful mover who gives the big guns fits, and a thoughtful performer who rarely has bad losses. She stands apart from am herd of topspinning baseliners as one of the few players to hit the ball flat, and she is talented enough to have started play in tennis as a lefty and succeeded despite being forced to play right-handed. Date says she’s retiring "because I am satisfied with what I have achieved in my tennis career." At 5-foot-4, she says she feels she has accomplished the most that is possible for a player her size on today’s tour: "I’m not really physically superior," she says. "For the past few years, I’ve really been pushing my limit." Date is referring to the physical ailments she’s had to battle to remain at the top level of the game. One can recall few major events in which she’s hasn’t played with some kind of injury. Last year at the Championships, she had a thigh wrapped most of the week and , after reaching the semifinals-also a first for a Japanese player-she received treatment throughout that semi-final match for a lower back problem. Although she denies it, many Japanese journalists feel that Date and her boyfriend, actor Kiichi Nakai, may be talking marriage. So far there’s nothing wrong with this picture. I’m happy Date has a life outside tennis, has focused on a specific set of goals for herself, accomplished them and then said sayonara. I refuse to get hung up in that old American mind set of "How could she retire when she’s at her peak and could go even higher?" If an athlete such as Date feels she has maxed out her potential and it’s now time to focus on something other than tennis, fine. Other times we’d be screaming what a player didn’t know when to hang up her racquet. The only problem I have is that Date has intimated that her retirement was also accelerated by a recent proposed change in the WTA rankings system- a change she says would make it harder for her and other Asian players to maintain their rankings. Currently, player rankings are determined by dividing the total points a player has earned over the previous 52 weeks by the number of tournaments she’s played ( minimum divisor: 14). Under the new proposal, ranking would be determined by total points earned over the last 52 weeks, period. This would encourage (force?) players to play more events. The added travel the extra punishment on her already beat-up body factored into Date’s decision to retire. Some of the extra events she would have to play would be in the U. S. or Europe in the fall, when Japanese players normally don’t’ leave the Asian continent. "There is a limit to how many tournaments I can play," says Date. Date is only the fifth player in the history of the women’s rankings to retire while still holding a top 10 position. While that might make her a statistical rarity, Date was already a rare player , whose style was both unorthodox and fascinating. The WTA should do whatever it takes to ensure that none of it’s players-especially top 10 players-feel they are competing on an uneven playing field. I have accomplished even more that I dreamed I could." Says Date."...I have no regrets." Why is it that I do?

Press Conference, 20 September 1996 FROM PRESS CONFERENCE WHERE SHE ANNOUNCED HER RETIREMENT ``I have come to think that now I am at the limit of my strength. I have no regrets. I was able to achieve things which I never dreamed of when I started playing tennis.'' "The most memorable moments of my career were when I defeated world No. 1 Steffi Graf during the Fed Cup in April, when also the Japanese Team could defeat Germany and when I played on the Centre Court at the Wimbledon Championship semifinals in July." "The WTA ranking system will be changed next year. It will be advantageous to players who enter many tournaments, like Arantxa (Sanchez Vicario) or (Lindsay) Davenport and so on. It would be too hard for me because I don't have so much physical or mental strength to endure many tournaments." "I have no plans to marry at this moment."