Veterans Date, Zvonareva and El Aynaoui on comebacks

Former world No.4 Kimiko Date is planning another comeback – this time at age 46.

The Japanese player has had two knee surgeries since her most recent tournament appearance at Australian Open 2016. She now plans to return in an ITF tournament in Gifu, Japan in May.

Date reached her career-high ranking of No.4 in 1995, then retired two years later. She made a return to professional tennis in 2008, setting a number of new age-related records. This including the longest gap between winning WTA titles (13 years) and at 40 becoming the oldest player to beat a top 10 opponent (defeating Sam Stosur in 2010).

Date, who divorced race-car driver Michael Krumm during her latest injury-layoff, will first test her fitness in an exhibition match against countrywoman Nao Hibino, the 22-year-old world No.80, on 12 April.

Kimiko Date-Krumm is back!

46-yo Japanese will play an exo match with Nao Hibino in April before her return to the tour at ITF Gifu in May! pic.twitter.com/j7U2g9YG02

— WTA Scores (@Scores_WTA) March 27, 2017

Russian Vera Zvonareva, a former world No.2, began her comeback this week in Turkey. The two-time Grand Slam finalist last competed in April 2015. The 32-year-old got married and had her first child while sidelined with injury. She made her return as a wildcard in an ITF event in Instanbul, but had to retire while leading top seed Katie Boulter of Great Britain 7-6(8) 2-3 in the first round.

Morroccan Younes El Aynaoui also made an unexpected return this week, with the 45-year-old former world No.14 competing in an ITF tournament in Bahrain. The four-time Grand Slam quarterfinalist, who last won a professional match in January 2010, qualified then reached the second round.