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Kimberly Birrell

Birrell at the 2024 Washington Open
Country (sports)	Australia
Residence	Gold Coast, Australia
Born	(1998-04-29) 29 April 1998 (age 26) Düsseldorf, Germany
Height	1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Turned pro	2014
Plays	Right (two-handed backhand)
Coach	Andy Fitzell
Prize money	US$ 1,157,288
Singles
Career record	202–172
Career titles	0
Highest ranking	No. 100 (18 September 2023)
Current ranking	No. 115 (11 November 2024)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian Open	3R (2019)
French Open	1R (2023)
Wimbledon	Q2 (2024)
US Open	1R (2023, 2024)
Doubles
Career record	67–74
Career titles	0
Highest ranking	No. 162 (9 September 2024)
Current ranking	No. 178 (14 October 2024)
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian Open	2R (2022, 2024)
Grand Slam mixed doubles results
Australian Open	2R (2023)
Team competitions
Fed Cup	1–3
Last updated on: 20 November 2024.

Kimberly Birrell (born 29 April 1998) is an Australian professional tennis player. Birrell reached a career-high WTA ranking of No. 100 on 18 September 2023. She has won six singles and two doubles titles on the ITF Circuit.

Personal life

Birrell was born in Düsseldorf, Germany, on 29 April 1998 to Australian parents. Her father, John, was working as a tennis coach in Germany at the time of her birth and shortly after relocated his family to Wodonga, Victoria. The family then settled on the Gold Coast, Queensland when Birrell was three years of age as her father took up a role as the head coach of Pat Cash's Tennis Academy. She has a brother Cade who is also a tennis player.

She began playing tennis at the age of four and switched training bases to the Queens Park Tennis Centre in 2008 when her father began managing the club. Queens Park had previously produced top 20 tennis players such as Bernard Tomic and Samantha Stosur, the latter of whom would train with Birrell when visiting the club. Birrell attended Coomera Anglican College during her schooling years and graduated in 2015.

Junior career

Birrell began playing on the ITF Junior Circuit under-18 events in July 2011 as a 13-year-old. She reached her first junior final a year later in Sydney and came out victorious over Pamela Boyanov in three sets. Following a strong 2012 season, she made her junior Grand Slam debut at the 2013 Australian Open at 14 years of age and was beaten by Sweden's Rebecca Peterson in straight sets. She continued to improve her junior ranking throughout 2013 by reaching two finals.

She entered the 2014 Australian Open unseeded and caused several upsets on her way to the semifinals. In the semifinals, she was defeated by Croatian player Jana Fett. She went on to compete in all the remaining majors throughout 2014 and reached her highest junior ranking of 18 in the world. Birrell competed in three junior Grand Slam events in 2015 but mostly focused on the women's tour.

Professional career

Birrell competed in her first professional event at the Bendigo Tennis Centre in October 2012 at the age of 14. She gained her first professional ranking point a year later with a straight sets win over Elizabeth James after receiving a wildcard into the main draw of a tournament held in her home state of Queensland. She finished 2013 with a professional singles ranking of 847.

2014: Doubles debut on WTA Tour

Birrell was awarded a wildcard into the doubles main draw of the Hobart International with compatriot Olivia Tjandramulia, where they lost in the first round to second seeds Lisa Raymond and Zhang Shuai.

In November, Birrell was given wildcards to the two Bendigo International tournaments. In her debut at a $50k event, she defeated world No. 351, Veronika Kapshay, in straight sets.

2015: Major doubles debut

In 2015, Birrell was awarded a qualifying wildcard into the Hobart International, but lost to Vitalia Diatchenko in straight sets. She was then given a wildcard for the Australian Open qualifying where she fell to Kateryna Bondarenko, in three sets. She also made her major main-draw debut, after getting one of seven team wildcards in women's doubles, alongside Priscilla Hon, but lost to the fifth seeds, Raquel Kops-Jones and Abigail Spears.

In March, Birrell qualified for and made the first ITF Circuit final of her career in Mildura, but lost to compatriot Alison Bai, in straight sets. Birrell didn't play between April–September, but returned to Australia to play in Tweed Heads, Cairns, Toowoomba, Brisbane, and Canberra. Her best results were a final in Brisbane and a semifinal in Canberra.

She finished the year with a ranking of No. 361.

2016: Major & WTA Tour singles debut & first final in doubles

Birrell was awarded a wildcard into the qualifying rounds of the Brisbane International, but lost to eventual main-draw semifinalist Samantha Crawford.

Birrell made her WTA Tour debut after being awarded a wildcard into the main draw at the Hobart International. She won 6–4, 6–3 against world No. 57, Danka Kovinić from Montenegro. She lost in round two to Dominika Cibulková. In the same tournament, she partnered Jarmila Wolfe in the doubles where they made the final.

Birrell was awarded a wildcard into the Australian Open but she lost in round one to ninth seed Karolína Plíšková, 4–6, 4–6. In February, Birrell made her Fed Cup debut against Dominika Cibulková, she lost 3–6, 1–6. Shortly after, she suffered a right elbow injury, sidelining her for the rest of the year.

Birrell ended 2016 with a ranking of No. 584.

2017: First ITF Circuit singles title

Birrell and her doubles partner, Priscilla Hon, were given a wildcard into the Australian Open, losing in the first round to Sam Stosur and Zhang Shuai. Six months later, Birrell and doubles partner Caroline Dolehide made the final of the ITF tournament in Winnipeg, Canada, losing to Hiroko Kuwata and Valeria Savinykh in two sets (a win would have marked Birrell's best win at an ITF tournament to date). The next week, in Gatineau, Birrell and her new doubles partner, Emily Webley-Smith of Great Britain, lost in the final to the same duo - Kuwata and Savinykh - in a third-set tiebreak. Birrell came back at the end of September with a run to the final in the Penrith International, losing to Olivia Rogowska in two sets. The following week in Brisbane, Birrell won her first ITF singles title by beating American Asia Muhammad in a tight three-setter.

2018: Top 300 debut

Birrell lost in the first round of qualifying in Brisbane, Sydney and the Melbourne. In August, she qualified for and reached her first quarterfinal of the year at the Landisville Tennis Challenge. In September, Kimberly reached the quarterfinals of the Cairns Tennis International before winning her second career ITF singles title in Darwin, where she also reached the final of the doubles. In December 2018, she won the Australian Open Wildcard Playoffs.

She ended 2018 with a singles ranking of No. 285.

2019: Australian Open 3rd round, first top-10 win, elbow injury and hiatus

Birrell commenced 2019 with a wildcard into the Brisbane International, where she claimed her first top 10 win over Daria Kasatkina.

At the 2019 Australian Open, Birrell had defeated Paula Badosa in round one, earning her first Grand Slam main-draw win before upsetting the 29th seed Donna Vekić, in the second round. She lost her third-round match against three time major champion and second seed, Angelique Kerber, in straight sets.

In February, Birrell reached the second round of the Launceston International, before returning to the Australian Fed Cup team. She played Madison Keys in the first round of the 2019 Fed Cup World Group and lost the match, but Australia won the tie. In April, she reached the quarterfinals of the Hardee's Pro Classic in Alabama.

Birrell lost in the first round of qualifying in the 2019 French Open and Wimbledon. Wimbledon was her last competitive match for over a year due to an elbow injury.

2021: Loss of form and second hiatus

Birrell played her first competitive match in 18 months at the Yarra Valley Classic where she lost in round one. She was given a wildcard into the Australian Open where she lost in round one to Rebecca Marino. In February 2021, she made the third round of the Phillip Island Trophy. It would be her final tournament for the year.

Birrell ended the season with a singles ranking of No. 740.

2022: New comeback

In January 2022, she played her first match in eleven months, at the Melbourne Summer Set 1, where she defeated Martina Trevisan in the first round of qualifying before losing to Lesley Pattinama Kerkhove in the final qualifying round.

Birrell then made the third and final round of the Australian Open qualifying.

2023: WTA singles quarterfinal & doubles final, WTA 1000 & top 100 debuts, Australian No. 1

At the Australian Open, she received a wildcard into the main draw, after the withdrawal of Venus Williams, and defeated 31st seed Kaia Kanepi in a three-set match lasting two hours and 32 minutes. It was her first Grand Slam main-draw win in four years, the third top-30 career win and the fourth top-50 one. She reached a new career-high ranking of 136 on 13 February 2023, following her fourth ITF title.

At the Mérida Open, she reached her first quarterfinal as a qualifier (lost to Caty McNally), and a new career-high of 116 on 27 February 2023. At the Monterrey Open, she made her second WTA Tour doubles final, partnering local favorite Fernanda Contreras Gómez after receiving a wildcard. She made her WTA 1000 debut in Indian Wells as a qualifier. She made her debut at the French Open as a wildcard.

She also made her US Open debut as a lucky loser. As a result, and also following reaching the semifinals at a $100k event in Tokyo, she reached the top 100 on 18 September 2023.

2024: First WTA final in Osaka

Birrell got a wildcard into the Australian Open in singles and doubles. In singles, she lost in the first round to Jeļena Ostapenko. In doubles, she partnered Olivia Gadecki, and together they scored a win over Sabrina Santamaria and Varvara Gracheva in straight sets. In the second round, the All-Aussie duo lost to eventual runners-up, Lyudmyla Kichenok and, again, Jeļena Ostapenko.

At the Nottingham Open, Birrell made her second career singles quarterfinal and her first on grass. She defeated Emily Appleton for her first main draw win of the 2024 season, and then defeated Lucrezia Stefanini before losing to Diane Parry.

Birrell qualified for the main draw of the 2024 US Open, losing to 24th seed Donna Vekić in the first round. She also qualified for the WTA 1000 China Open, making her debut at this tournament, but lost in the first round to lucky loser Kamilla Rakhimova who she had defeated in the final qualifying round three days earlier.

In October, Birrell qualified for the Japan Women's Open and then defeated Zheng Saisai, third seed Elise Mertens, wildcard Sara Saito and Aoi Ito to reach her first WTA Tour final where she lost in straight sets to fellow qualifier Suzan Lamens.

2025: Brisbane International quarterfinal

Birrell began her 2025 season at the Brisbane International, where she received a wildcard entry and defeated qualifier Priscilla Hon, second seed Emma Navarro and Anastasia Potapova to reach the quarterfinals, at which point her run was ended by Anhelina Kalinina.

National representation

Fed Cup

Birrell made her debut for the Australia Fed Cup team in February 2016 against Slovakia at the age of 17. She was selected to compete against Dominika Cibulková in the fourth rubber of the tie and was defeated 6–3, 6–1.

Performance timelines

Only main-draw results in WTA Tour, Grand Slam tournaments, Billie Jean King Cup, United Cup, Hopman Cup and Olympic Games are included in win–loss records.

Singles

Current through the 2024 US Open.

Doubles

Current through the 2024 US Open.

WTA Tour finals

Singles: 1 (1 runner-up)

Result	W–L	Date	Tournament	Tier	Surface	Opponent	Score
Loss	0–1	Oct 2024	Japan Women's Open, Japan	WTA 250	Hard	Suzan Lamens	0–6, 4–6

Doubles: 2 (2 runner-ups)

Result	W–L	Date	Tournament	Tier	Surface	Partner	Opponents	Score
Loss	0–1	Jan 2016	Hobart International, Australia	International	Hard	Jarmila Wolfe	Han Xinyun Christina McHale	3–6, 0–6
Loss	0–2	Mar 2023	Monterrey Open, Mexico	WTA 250	Hard	Fernanda Contreras Gómez	Yuliana Lizarazo María Paulina Pérez	3–6, 7–5,

ITF Circuit finals

Singles: 11 (6 titles, 5 runner–ups)

Result	W–L	Date	Tournament	Tier	Surface	Opponent	Score
Loss	0–1	Mar 2015	ITF Mildura, Australia	15,000	Grass	Alison Bai	3–6, 3–6
Loss	0–2	Oct 2015	Brisbane International, Australia	25,000	Hard	Priscilla Hon	4–6, 3–6
Loss	0–3	Sep 2017	ITF Penrith, Australia	25,000	Hard	Olivia Rogowska	2–6, 4–6
Win	1–3	Oct 2017	ITF Brisbane, Australia	25,000	Hard	Asia Muhammad	4–6, 6–3, 6–2
Win	2–3	Sep 2018	Darwin International, Australia	60,000	Hard	Ellen Perez	6–3, 6–3
Loss	2–4	Jul 2022	ITF Figueira da Foz, Portugal	W25+H	Hard	Jamie Loeb	5–7, 4–6
Loss	2–5	Oct 2022	ITF Cairns, Australia	W25	Hard	Priscilla Hon	6–4, 6–7, 4–6
Win	3–5	Oct 2022	Playford International, Australia	W60	Hard	Maddison Inglis	3–6, 7–5, 6–4
Win	4–5	Feb 2023	ITF Orlando Pro, United States	W60	Hard	Rebecca Peterson	6–3, 6–0
Win	5–5	Jul 2023	ITF Cantanhede, Portugal	W25	Carpet	Arina Rodionova	4–6, 6–3, 6–1
Win	6–5	May 2024	Fukuoka International, Japan	W75	Carpet	Emina Bektas	6–2, 6–4

Doubles: 7 (2 titles, 5 runner–ups)

Result	W–L	Date	Tournament	Tier	Surface	Partner	Opponents	Score
Win	1–0	Sep 2015	ITF Tweed Heads, Australia	10,000	Hard	Tammi Patterson	Dalma Gálfi Priscilla Hon	6–7, 6–3,
Loss	1–1	Jul 2017	Winnipeg Challenger, Canada	25,000	Hard	Caroline Dolehide	Hiroko Kuwata Valeria Savinykh	4–6, 6–7
Loss	1–2	Jul 2017	Challenger de Gatineau, Canada	25,000	Hard	Emily Webley-Smith	Hiroko Kuwata Valeria Savinykh	6–4, 3–6,
Loss	1–3	Sep 2018	Darwin International, Australia	60,000	Hard	Katy Dunne	Hiroko Kuwata Rutuja Bhosale	2–6, 4–6
Loss	1–4	May 2022	ITF Nottingham, UK	W25	Hard	Alexandra Osborne	Naiktha Bains Maia Lumsden	6–3, 6–7,
Win	2–4	Apr 2024	Tokyo Open, Japan	W100	Hard	Jang Su-jeong	Aleksandra Krunić Arina Rodionova	7–5, 3–6,
Loss	2–5	May 2024	Kangaroo Cup, Japan	W100	Hard	Rebecca Marino	Liang En-shuo Tang Qianhui	6–0, 6–3

Head-to-head statistics

Wins over top 10 players

#	Player	Rk	Event	Surface	Rd	Score	KBR
2019
1.	Daria Kasatkina	10	Brisbane International, Australia	Hard	1R	5–7, 6–4, 7–6	283
2025
2.	Emma Navarro	8	Brisbane International, Australia	Hard	2R	7–5, 7–5	113

Notes

1. Formerly known as Fed Cup until 2020.
2. Edition is split into the two years due to COVID-19.
3. 2013: WTA ranking–818, 2014: WTA ranking–n/a.
4. 2013: WTA ranking–1236.
5. The WTA International tournaments were reclassified as WTA 250 tournaments in 2021.

References

1. "Kimberly Birrell - Tennis Explorer". www.tennisexplorer.com. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
2. "My Coach – March 2015 issue by Tennis Australia - Issuu". 24 April 2015.
3. Campbell, Millie (28 June 2017). "The beauty of Birrell". Tennis Australia. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
4. "Kimberly Birrell Parents".
5. "Birrell's dream starts today". 11 August 2018.
6. "LOCAL TALENTS HEADLINE AUSTRALIAN PRO TOUR EVENT ON THE GOLD COAST". 27 November 2023.
7. "AN AUSSIE PLAYER'S JOURNEY TO HIS FIRST ATP POINT". 24 September 2024.
8. Fraser, Andrew (17 September 2011). "Advantage tennis – it's a hotbed of talent on the Gold Coast". The Australian. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
9. Potts, Andrew (6 November 2016). "Gold Coast history: Queens Park Tennis Club". Gold Coast Bulletin. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
10. Walton, Darren (17 January 2019). "Birrell primed for showdown with Kerber". Newcastle Herald. Archived from the original on 19 January 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
11. "Gold Coast's Kimberly Birrell named junior female tennis athlete of year". Retrieved 3 February 2024.
12. ^ "Kimberly Birrell". itftennis.com. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
13. "Southport tennis star Kimberly Birrell aims for finals". Archived from the original on 23 February 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
14. "Daily preview: Aussies aim to continue winning streak on day three". Hobart International. 7 January 2014. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
15. Packman, David (6 November 2014). "Birrell breakthrough in Bendigo". Tennis Australia. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
16. "Australian Open: Kimberly Birrell leads girls' charge". The Sydney Morning Herald. 27 January 2015. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
17. "BIRRELL SECURES FIRST WTA WIN IN HOBART". www.tennis.com.au. 11 January 2016. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
18. "BIRRELL AMONG LAST AUSSIE WILDCARDS FOR OPEN". www.tennis.com.au. 13 January 2016. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
19. "Gold Coast tennis ace Kimberly Birrell hopes to play Australian Open after recovering from elbow surgery". Gold Coast Bulletin. 9 November 2016. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
20. "Rogowska finishes strongly in Penrith". www.tennis.com/au. 24 September 2017. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
21. "Birrell wins maiden title in Brisbane". www.tennis.com/au. 1 October 2017. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
22. "BIRRELL, AIAVA SCORE STUNNING WINS IN BRISBANE". Tennis Australia. 31 December 2018. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
23. "Kimberly Birrell [AUS] | AO". ausopen.com. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
24. "SHARMA, HIVES, BIRRELL OPEN WITH AO VICTORIES". Tennis Australia. 14 January 2019. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
25. "Kimberly Birrell Learning to Overcome Setbacks". 31 May 2020. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
26. "Kimberly Birrell live scores, results, fixtures | Flashscore.com.ng / Tennis". www.flashscore.com.ng. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
27. "Winning Runs Over for Aussies at Melbourne Summer Series". Tennis Australia. 16 February 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
28. "BIRRELL MAKES WINNING RETURN AT MELBOURNE SUMMER SET". Tennis Australia. 3 January 2022. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
29. "Australian Open 2022: 14 Aussie Women Set for Qualifying". Tennis Australia. 10 January 2022. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
30. "Eight Aussies Ready to Continue Australian Open 2022 Qualifying Quests". Tennis Australia. 12 January 2022. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
31. "Aussie wildcard Birrell defies rankings to down Kanepi". ausopen.com. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
32. "Aussie Open Day 2 by the numbers: Cancelled matches, Birrell's upset and more".
33. "Ranking movers: Birrell soars after title-winning run".
34. "Mérida Open: American McNally books spot in semi-finals". 24 February 2023.
35. "Ranking movers: Birrell, Purcell skyrocket into world's top 120".
36. "Birrell advances to first WTA doubles final in seven years".
37. "Rankings Watch: Siniakova returns to doubles No.1; Kenin up 40 spots".
38. "Australian Open: Adelaide champ Ostapenko through to second round". Tennis Majors. 16 January 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
39. "Nottingham Open: Birrell into last 16". Tennis Majors. 10 June 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
40. "Birrell overcomes Stefanini in seesaw Nottingham second round". Women's Tennis Association. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
41. "Nottingham Open: Parry through to last 4". Tennis Majors. 15 June 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
42. "A record-breaking six Australians qualify at US Open 2024". 22 August 2024.
43. "Donna Vekic rolls into Round 2 against Kimberly Birrell at the 2024 US Open". US Open. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
44. "China Open: Rakhimova loses to Birrell in qualies, beats her in first round as lucky loser". Tennis Majors. 26 September 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
45. "Déjà vu in Beijing: Rakhimova avenges her loss in uncommon tournament double". Women's Tennis Association. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
46. "Osaka Open: Birrell makes second round". Tennis Majors. 15 October 2024. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
47. "Japan Open: Birrell into last eight as Mertens retires in third set". Tennis Majors. 17 October 2024. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
48. "Birrell halts Saito run in Osaka to reach first WTA semifinal". Women's Tennis Association. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
49. "Qualifier Birrell stops Ito to make first WTA final in Osaka". Women's Tennis Association. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
50. "Osaka Open: Birrell advances to final". Tennis Majors. 20 October 2024. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
51. "Lamens wins all-qualifier final in Osaka to capture first WTA title". Women's Tennis Association. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
52. "Birrell denies fellow Australian Hon from a set down in Brisbane". Women's Tennis Association. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
53. "Brisbane: Birrell stuns Navarro for biggest career win". Tennis Australia. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
54. "Kim Birrell knocks out world number eight Emma Navarro in Brisbane International boilover". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
55. "Kim Birrell flies into Brisbane International quarterfinals, beating Anastasia Potapova". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
56. "Kim Birrell's 'Cinderella' story cut short in thriller quarter final against Anhelina Kalinina". Nine. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
57. "Sam Stosur guides Australia to Fed Cup win over Slovakia". Sydney Morning Herald. 8 February 2016.
58. "Kimberly Birrell [AUS] | Australian Open". ausopen.com.

External links

• Kimberly Birrell at the Women's Tennis Association
• Kimberly Birrell at the International Tennis Federation
• Kimberly Birrell at the Billie Jean King Cup
• Kimberly Birrell at Tennis Australia

v t e Women's Tennis Association: Top Australian female singles tennis players
as of 18 November 2024
1. Ajla Tomljanović (84 1) 2. Olivia Gadecki (88 2) 3. Kimberly Birrell (114 1) 4. Maya Joint (119 ) 5. Daria Saville (120 )
6. Talia Gibson (125 ) 7. Arina Rodionova (132 2) 8. Taylah Preston (156 ) 9. Maddison Inglis (158 3) 10. Priscilla Hon (190 3)

v t e Women's Tennis Association: Top Australian female doubles tennis players as of 14 October 2024
1. Ellen Perez (13 ) 2. Storm Hunter (24 1) 3. Olivia Gadecki (85 6) 4. Destanee Aiava (161 1) 5. Kimberly Birrell (178 15)
6. Talia Gibson (200 6) 7. Maddison Inglis (202 11) 8. Jaimee Fourlis (210 58) 9. Maya Joint (212 2) 10. Daria Saville (225 5)

• 1998 births
• Living people
• Sportspeople from Düsseldorf
• Australian female tennis players
• German female tennis players
• German people of Australian descent
• Sportswomen from Queensland
• Tennis people from the Gold Coast
• Australian expatriate sportspeople in Germany
• Sportspeople in Germany by club or team
• 21st-century German sportswomen