2013 Australian Tennis Open dates

Date Krumme, 42, thrashed 12th seed Nadia Petrova 6-2, 6-0 in the first round

"I'm very happy to win today, but I don't play for the records, " she said.

"Even when I lose, I still enjoy it. Of course, every time I lose...it's tough. But still I enjoy playing.

"I love tennis. I like practice. I like games. I like the tour. I enjoy it a lot."

When Date Krumm first played at the Australian Open some 23 years ago, she beat American Pam Shriver on her way to the fourth round at the year's first grand slam.

Four year's later, she ousted Conchita Martinez to reach the semi-finals at Melbourne Park only to go down 6-3, 6-3 to eventual champion Steffi Graf.

Shriver, Martinez and Graf are all many years into retirement now, but Date-Krumm plays on

The win today has handed Date Krumm a second round tie against Shahar Peer of Israel and, even if she loses, there is no reason to suspect that her 12th Australian Open will be her last.

"The season has just started, so I try to continue to end of year, " she said. "But I don't know. Something like a big injury might happen, of course, so I cannot continue. And then - still, I don't know."