Ahead of comeback, ageless Kimiko Date-Krumm files for divorce after 16 years of marriage

Kimiko Date-Krumm has released a statement announcing that she and husband Michael Krumm, a German professional racing driver, have gotten divorced.

The couple was married for 16 years, with Date-Krumm citing her husband's encouragement as the biggest reason she decided to make a comeback following a 12-year hiatus from the WTA tour.

"We have discussed [it] for a long time, and we decided to pursue separate paths from now on," Date-Krumm said in a statement. "Our relationship is still amicable. As we both had a lot of time in Tokyo this year, we lived together and we were dining together.

"I believe that our relationship will not change in a big way, even after our divorce, and we will probably meet as friends."

Date-Krumm, who will turn 46 on Wednesday, recently said that she plans to return to the tour following two knee surgeries this season.

She reached a career-high ranking of No. 4 in 1995, and is currently ranked No. 666.