BIRRELL Brilliance

By LEIGH ROGERS

The resurgent Kimberly Birrell has plenty of reasons to smile.

The 25-year-old from the Gold Coast is in career-best form and has been rewarded in the singles rankings, peaking at world No.110 in singles in May.

Her season highlights include six top-100 wins, a maiden WTA quarter nal appearance and a rst Grand Slam main-draw victory in four years.

“A huge goal of mine was to play at Indian Wells. I’d been really close to playing twice before, I had even been on site but just missed out (on making the qualifying draw). So I tried to build a schedule to give myself the best chance to play.

“To be in and around the top 100, you need to play the bigger tournaments. It was really tempting to stay and play the tournaments at home. Getting to spend more time in Australia is always nice, so it was a tough decision. But I just had a gut feeling and went with it, which I’m really glad I decided to do.”

130 and I knew I was going to be playing Indian Wells, so I feel like that took a lot of pressure o for the rest of the trip,” she said.

As well as recording 14 wins from her 19 singles matches during that two-month trip, Birrell also enjoyed doubles success. She reached her second career WTA final, and first in seven years, alongside Mexico’s Fernanda Contreras at a WTA 250 tournament in Monterrey.

“It’s been really fun. I feel like it’s gone so quickly, I’ve played so many matches. To get to a career-high ranking, I’m just stoked,” Birrell told Australian Tennis Magazine.

Birrell connected with new coach Andy Fitzell, an American based in Germany, in Florida in February and claimed an ITF 60 title in Orlando. It was her fourth career title and biggest on international soil.

“Winning the rst week cemented my ranking around

“Hopefully I can continue this throughout the year, especially how I’m feeling out on court.” her fourth career title and biggest been throughout made the most of a wildcard

A er beginning the season ranked world No.173, Birrell made the most of a wildcard at Australian Open 2023 by upsetting No.31 seed Kaia Kanepi in the opening round.

“Having battles and wins against top girls it is such a good feeling,” Birrell said. “The more time you spend around the top level, playing the bigger tournaments and rubbing shoulders with the best, the more you feel like you belong and t in.

“I feel like I deserve to be there and I’ve shown that.” against Wimbledon 2022 semi nalist Tatjana Maria and the in-form Varvara Gracheva

Pro Tour events in the months that followed, Birrell travelled to

While many of her peers opted to compete at Australian Pro Tour events in the months that followed, Birrell travelled to North America.

“I just really wanted to use the momentum that I gained from the Aussie Open,” she explained.

Birrell, who has scored wins against Wimbledon 2022 semi nalist Tatjana Maria and the in-form Varvara Gracheva this season, made her WTA 1000 main-draw debut a er a successful qualifying campaign at Indian Wells.

“I’ve always thought I could

“I’ve always thought I could match it against those girls, but to have more wins on the board always helps,” she said.

“I have more con dence that I can get inside the top 100, start

I can get inside the top 100, start