Kim Birrell feared her career was over when repeated elbow surgeries forced her from the court for more than two years.
But from relative obscurity, the Queenslander has emerged as a bona fide giant slayer – advancing to the Brisbane International quarterfinals, her first in a WTA 500 event – courtesy of another major scalp.
Just 24 hours after she shocked world No.8 Emma Navarro in straight sets, Birrell claimed another emphatic triumph against 35th-ranked Russian Anastasia Potapova 7-6, 6-2 on Pat Rafter Arena to complete her ascent back into the top 100.
Kimberly Birrell celebrates.Credit: Getty Images
According to the WTA live rankings, the 26-year-old’s win on Thursday, during which she demonstrated great resilience after missing out on nine of 12 break point opportunities, has lifted her to No.99, overtaking Olivia Gadecki as Australia’s leading woman.
It was the second of those successful break points against Potapova which drew the biggest reaction from Birrell, shouting and fist pumping, before saving three break point opportunities the following game to charge home.
The Gold Coast player, who missed out on an Australian Open wildcard and will need to carry her form into qualifying after her Brisbane exploits, admitted if not for her family during her recovery from injury between July 2019 and January 2022 she did not believe she would ever return.
But she was unsurprised by how she had been able to “play well under pressure” and embrace the underdog tag.
“I think I was obviously the underdog yesterday, but I tried to remind myself that I was today, as well. I definitely did have expectations of myself, and was really determined to play well like I had the day before,” Birrell said.
“In the past I have had some big results, but it’s really nice to prove to myself I can play that way consistently, and that’s a really big goal of mine moving into this season. I’ve been told by people, my coaches and family, that I have that level, so now to really prove it to myself feels very good.
“I have much bigger goals than just reaching the top 100. I want to be comfortably inside the top 100.”
Should Birrell continue her remarkable run, it has the potential to raise questions regarding how the Australian Open wildcards are chosen, painting a similar picture to last year when the country’s then top-ranked woman, Arina Rodionova, went unrewarded.
Tennis Australia instead granted teenagers Maya Joint and Emerson Jones, veterans Daria Saville and Ajla Tomljanovic and rising star Talia Gibson automatic entry this year.
But Birrell said she held no ill-will about her situation going into qualifying matches from January 6.
“I actually had a little feeling I may not get one because there were so many of us who did need it and were all ranked around the same. A lot had great years, and we have some amazing juniors coming up through the ranks,” Birrell said.
“I was given some opportunities when I was their age, so I could only worry about myself and … what I needed to work on. That’s what I did, and I was super happy for all the girls who received them.
“I was kind of glad when I found out, I could move on and focus on the process. I qualified at the US Open, so I have belief I can do it, and can’t wait to get to Melbourne.”
