Australian Open 2022: Queensland’s Kim Birrell moves within one victory of qualifying for Melbourne Park grand slam

Kim Birrell’s dominant win in the second round of Australian Open qualifying inched her closer to a grand slam main draw return.

Queensland’s Kim Birrell is one win away from the Australian Open main draw. Picture: Getty Images

Kim Birrell is going to have to find a new player to hit with ahead of her Australian Open final-round qualifying contest on Friday.

The Queenslander, on the comeback trail from a right elbow injury that’s marred her career for several years, is one win from making the main draw after blitzing Ekaterine Gorgodze 6-2 6-1 on Wednesday.

Birrell, 23, will need to beat friend and junior peer Harriet Dart, the British No.11 seed, to book her fourth main draw appearance at her home grand slam.

They both won on Wednesday morning after warming up together before their matches.

“We know each other pretty well because we are the same age and we grew up in juniors,” Birrell said.

“I guess it’ll just come down to who can play better on the day. I know she’s a really fierce competitor and she’s never down and out.”

Birrell retains fond memories at Melbourne Park, where she reached the last 32 at the 2019 Australian Open and won national junior championships.

Kim Birrell is on the verge of qualifying for the Australian Open. Picture: Getty Images

That grand slam run was supposed to be the platform for German-born baseliner to take off from, but multiple elbow surgeries and repeat setbacks mean she is playing this week as the world No.664.

Birrell’s lowly ranking mattered little as she relentlessly bullied her 143rd-ranked opponent Gorgodze with the aggressive play she’s become known for.

She hit more than double as many winners (24-11), committed fewer unforced errors (15-19) and didn’t face a break point in a brilliant performance from the outset, including a 4-0 start.

Birrell said she was riding the wave of her fellow Australians’ success – she is one of 15 who made the second round of qualifying – as she dares to dream about competing in next week’s grand slam.

“To be honest, even just playing first-round qualies on Monday meant so much to me,” she said.

“I’m just taking it one match at a time and each time I step out on the court; I’m sort of pinching myself and I feel really grateful.

“I’m just really happy to be playing after what I’ve been through these last couple of years.”

Originally published as Australian Open 2022: Queensland’s Kim Birrell moves within one victory of qualifying for Melbourne Park grand slam