Gold Coasters Kimberly Birrell, Olivia Gadecki, and Emerson Jones all begin their quest for Aus Open glory on Tuesday

The Gold Coast has rarely, if ever, been so strongly represented at the Australian Open. Hear from the golden trio who are set to begin their quests for grand slam glory.

Just call them the Gold Coast’s Australian Open Triple Threat.

This golden Gold Coast trio - Olivia Gadecki, 22, Kim Birrell, 26, and teen sensation Emerson Jones - are set to tackle the tall task of toppling higher-ranked opponents when they hit off their respective Australian Open campaigns in primetime show court matches on Tuesday.

The Gold Coast has rarely, if ever, been so strongly represented on the women’s side of the Australian Open as it is this year.

Gadecki, ranked 106th in the world, has the most favourable match-up on paper, pitted against Veronika Kudermetova, ranked 75th in the world.

Jones and Birrell have been drawn particularly tough round one match-ups.

Standing in wildcard Jones’ path to the second round is sixth seed, 2022 Wimbledon champion and 2023 Australian Open finalist Elena Rybakina.

Birrell, who won through three rounds of qualifying and surged inside the world’s top 100 after a strong run at the Brisbane International before now settling at 101, will take on 13th seeded Anna Kalinskaya.

Having already been granted her wildcard to the Australian Open’s main draw, Jones captured headlines at the Adelaide International earlier this month when she picked up the biggest win of her career to breeze past world number 37 Wang Xinyu in straight sets.

It sparked comparisons to Australian triple grand slam champion Ash Barty who advised her to “enjoy” it.

“Getting to see that level was really good because I haven’t really gotten to see that level yet,” Jones said of her Adelaide campaign, where she also challenged world no. 10 Daria Kasatkina in the round of 16, before losing 5-7 3-6.

Emerson Jones of Australia plays a backhand in her match against Daria Kasatkina during day three of the 2025 Adelaide International. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images.

“Knowing I can compete with these girls and these women, it’s pretty exciting for me.”

Jones’ coach Carlos Cuadrado added: “It made me realize she can beat anybody, which was a great thing to see.

“I also realised her level lifts when she plays against better players, which is a very good skill.”

Jones described herself as an aggressive player, and has reiterated she is on her own journey despite the Barty comparisons.

“I feel like I’m pretty brave on court. I just go for my shots,” Jones said.

Gold Coast women tennis players Kim Birrell, Emerson Jones and Olivia Gadecki together in Melbourne ahead of the Australian Open. Picture: Tony Gough.

Birrell enters the tournament as Australia’s highest-ranked female player (101) and one of the country’s top hometown hopes, although she was made to fight her way into the main draw through a trio of three-set qualifiers off the back of a run to the quarterfinals at the Brisbane International where she took down world number eight Emma Navarro.

“Super proud that I was able to dig in and get through some of the tough (qualifying) matches that I think wasn’t just about tennis, I was sort of managing a few different things,” Birrell said on reaching the AO first round.

She had been plagued by injuries between 2019 and 2022, spending the best part of three years sidelined.

“There’s always moments where you question, ‘what am I doing? Do I think I’m going to get back to where I was?’,” Birrell said.

“To actually prove that to myself now, have the runs on the board, is absolutely huge. It’s really cool (to be the top ranked Australian woman), something I dreamed of as a little kid.”

Originally published as Gold Coasters Kimberly Birrell, Olivia Gadecki, and Emerson Jones all begin their quest for Aus Open glory on Tuesday