Japan's former world No. 4 Kimiko Date-Krumm, who is rehabilitating after undergoing a second surgical procedure on her left knee in April, said Thursday she is targeting a return to action next year.
Speaking during an event at the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, Date, who turns 46 next week, said, "I have been told it will take a year (to fully recover from the op) and it's just a case of how much more or less time it will be than that.
"Everything has gone well up to this point and it has not put limitations on my daily life."
However, Date-Krumm has dropped muscle in the knee and is still not able to put together a running program.
"As an athlete you have to condition muscle and I want the injury to properly heal," she said.
Date-Krumm had arthroscopic surgery in February but the meniscus was found to be badly worn out. She went under the knife again on April 21 after she was told she needed another operation to get back to the court.
Date-Krumm, who initially retired in 1996 but made a comeback in 2008 at age 37, had a cartilage transplant, microfracture surgery and her meniscus sewed up at Kobe University Hospital.