Date Krumm made comeback after 12 years 'Today's win feels to me like she won a Grand Slam' 'Today was a big achievement' 'I travelled a lot in these

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It took about two years for Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin to come out of retirement. Kimiko Date Krumm waited 12 years before letting the fire inside her burn again and Dinara Safina felt the full heat in Paris.

The 39-year-old Japanese became the second oldest woman to reach the second round of the French Open after a 3-6, 6-4, 7-5 win over former World No 1 Safina.

Although she ached and limped on Court Suzanne Lenglen as she struggled with a calf injury, a big smile eventually wiped off her mask of pain.

Date Krumm, who ran the London Marathon during her retirement from tennis, is now enjoying life on the tour as the world number 72 after some tough times when she was younger.

"In my first career, I would hate it. I always would go back to Japan, even for a few days only," she said. "Now, I can stay for a month in Europe. I'm older, wiser."