Tennis Great Date Kimiko Helping Bring Japan’s Tennis Courts in from the Cold

A sand-infused artificial turf court (left) compared to a hard court. (© Pixta)

Former Japanese tennis star Date Kimiko. (© Uwadaira Tsunebumi)

Date waves to the crowd after winning the doubles trophy of the Kangaroo Cup with Nara Kurumi (rear left) on May 4, 2008, at the Tennis Plaza in Gifu, which at the time had carpet courts. (© Jiji)