While the Australian Open has seen local hopes’ dreams dashed due to injury, it was that scenario in reverse for Kim Birrell.
Just 10 days ago, the 24-year-old didn’t even have a spot in the Australian Open main draw, before the withdrawal of former world No.1 Venus Williams – nearly 20 years Birrell’s senior – saw the Australian awarded a wildcard into the event.
It was an unlikely return for Birrell, the world No.167, who hadn’t appeared in the main draw of a major since the 2021 Australian Open and hadn’t won a slam match since her third-round run back in 2019.
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‘Crikey that was a ripsnorter mate!’ | 00:39
It was ironic that injury would open the door for Birrell’s main draw return given it was injury that threatened to derail her career over the last three years.
Achieving a ranking of world No.154 back in 2019, Birrell was suddenly left reeling from injury, with two elbow surgeries seeing her time on the circuit wane and her ranking plummet.
Last year, Birrell reached the final round of Australian Open qualifying before being defeated, with her ranking at that time world No.669.
Ever-persistent, Birrell used her 2022 campaign to roar back into the top 200, reaching three finals on the ITF circuit and she began to put the pieces back together again.
When tennis dabbles in irony, it often does so in excess, so it was fitting Birrell’s win first-round win on Tuesday came against 31st seed Kaia Kanepi, who herself has made a career out of defeating some of the game’s biggest names.
For Birrell, Tuesday’s win was the cherry on top of a comeback that had already been beginning to reap its rewards.
“I would say even without this win today it’s worthwhile,” she said immediately after her 3-6, 7-6(4), 6-1 win in just over two-and-a-half hours on Kia Arena.
“I’m doing what I absolutely love.
“Not many people get to wake up and live their dream knowing that so many people are supporting me, not just my family and friends who I know personally, but so many people who are watching today and back home on TV. Thank you.”
Making Birrell’s win all the more impressive was the calibre of opponent, with Kanepi having made the quarter-finals in Melbourne last year.
It was Kanepi herself who defied her ranking in 2022, with the Estonian sitting at world No.115 this time last year when she took out 16th seed and former champion Angelique Kerber in the first round, then later defeating world No.2 Aryna Sabalenka before falling ultimately falling to Iga Swiatek.
At this stage, Birrell’s ranking now sits inside the top 150, with more points on offer against Czech teenager Lina Fruhvirtova in the second round. It also means she will pocket at least $158,000 for reaching the second round.
Fruhvirtova took out Australia’s top-ranked female at this event, Jaimee Fourlis, in relatively straightforward fashion on Tuesday, but Birrell is unlikely to fall as quietly if her career so far is anything to go by.
With Olivia Gadecki securing a breakthrough win of her own on Monday, it has been a watershed slam for Queenslanders thus far.
