WTA stars took to social media to congratulate Kimiko Date on an amazing career as she retired from the sport following her defeat to Aleksandra Krunic at the Japan Women's Open.
Date, now 46, initially stepped away from the sport in 1996 before making a comeback 12 years later.
An amazing women & inspiration to all of us! Congratulations again dear Kimiko on an amazing career! You'll be missed ?@WTA #truelegend?? pic.twitter.com/GreZG8zKmu
— Kristina Mladenovic (@KikiMladenovic) September 13, 2017
Not many souls like Kimiko out there in tennis world and I was so lucky to meet you and know you well ? Thanks for everything and congrats ? pic.twitter.com/IN5uFm8KUh
— Andrea Hlavackova (@AndreaHlavackov) September 12, 2017
What a career! My favorite Kimiko story to date was earlier this year when she offered me her chair and said "don't worry, I'm still young!" https://t.co/iFJl2Rn3Vy
— Irina Falconi (@IrinaFalconi) September 12, 2017
Arigato for everything Kimiko ! I learn a lot on your side, on and off court. Hope to see you around ? I'll miss you ??? #Legend https://t.co/3LMLy9aldl
— Caroline Garcia (@CaroGarcia) September 12, 2017
There was also plenty of acclaim for new World No.1 Garbiñe Muguruza - particularly from her compatriots.
¡Qué orgullo ☺️ más grande! @GarbiMuguruza y @RafaelNadal, ¡números 1 del ?! ¡Y @pablocarreno91 ?10!
¡VAMOS??! ???? pic.twitter.com/ndE4eRrCOj— Anabel Medina (@anabelmedina) September 11, 2017
Number 1️⃣ ? @GarbiMuguruza pic.twitter.com/IowKPgIAe4
— Carla Suarez Navarro (@CarlaSuarezNava) September 11, 2017
![Sara Sorribes Tormo d. [WC] Gao Xinyu 6-7(4), 7-5, 7-5, Beijing R1 (4:15). Sorribes Tormo led 5-1 in the third set, and held off a late comeback attempt by Gao to win the fourth longest match of the Open Era.](https://photoresources.wtatennis.com/photo-resources/2024/09/26/f4607c83-dcf9-4897-9b41-90ae8c384a35/Sorribes-Tormo-R1-ST-2.jpg?width=451&height=268)
