Kim Birrell returns to Coomera Anglican College as Fed Cup semi-final tie in Brisbane looms

Kim Birrell was the furthest place from a major tennis arena when she was blown away on court on Thursday.

KIM Birrell was the furthest place from a major tennis arena when she was blown away on court on Thursday.

The bubbly 20-year-old wasn’t playing 23-time grand slam champion Serena Williams; nor was it her Australian Open conqueror Angelique Kerber who stunned her.

Instead it was 10-year-old Emerson Jones, who Birrell had a hit with during a visit to Coomera Anglican College, from where she graduated in 2015.

It’s been two months since the Gold Coaster’s breakout tournament at the Australian Open. Having already beaten Brisbane International seventh seed Daria Kasatkina earlier in the summer, Birrell defeated Donna Vekic en route to a third round centre court meeting with Kerber.

Kim Birrell delivers tickets to Coomera Anglican College students who joined her on court. Left to right: Baxter Dent, Emerson Jones, Lucas Crummer and Hayden Jones, with Birrell in the middle. Picture: Jerad Williams

Ever since then, Birrell has become a more familiar name in the Australian public and Coomera Anglican College students were delighted to meet the rising star.

Birrell gave away a stack of tickets to Australia’s upcoming Fed Cup semi-final tie against Belarus in Brisbane before joining students Lucas Crummer and Baxter Dent in hitting against Emerson and her 12-year-old brother Hayden.

All four impressed Birrell, with Emerson in particular showing ability and power way beyond her years.

“I wasn’t expecting so much power from such a little human,” Birrell laughed.

“She is going to give me a run for my money one day I bet.”

Birrell addresses Coomera Anglican College students. Picture: Jerad Williams

Birrell also addressed a group of students and happily took endless questions – the first of which led to her revealing her target of cracking the world’s top 100 by the end of the year.

She is currently the No.156 and is in line to have a chance to qualify for each of the three remaining 2019 slams: the French Open, Wimbledon and US Open.

Coomera Anglican College principal Mark Sly was pleased to see their school’s emphasis on respect and acting as a role model had paid off, though he was hardly surprised.

“You would never have to pull her up for anything. She was always doing the right thing because she wanted to and she knew the importance of that for younger people,” Sly said.

Birrell plays a backhand. Picture: Jerad Williams

“I couldn’t help but notice the difference in Kim’s post-match interview at the Australian Open when she lost to Kerber and how bubbly and positive she was about the experience as opposed to some of the young male Australian players who didn’t win their match and wanted to blame everyone else.”

Australia’s Fed Cup semi-final will be held on April 20-21, with the prize being a berth in the decider against France or Romania.

BIRRELL’S 10 BIGGEST MATCHES TO DATE

January 2016: Defeated Danka Kovinic in Hobart International first round 6-4 6-3

January 2016: Lost to Dominika Cibulkova in Hobart International second round 6-1 6-0

January 2016: Lost to Karolina Pliskova in Australian Open first round 6-4 6-4

February 2016: Lost to Dominika Cibulkova in Fed Cup singles rubber 6-3 6-1

December 2017: Lost to Kaia Kanepi in Brisbane International first round 6-1 6-3

December 2018: Defeated Daria Kasatkina in Brisbane International first round 5-7 6-4 7-6

January 2019: Defeated Kristina Mladenovic in Sydney International qualifiers 7-6 3-6 7-6

January 2019: Defeated Donna Vekic in Australian Open second round 6-4 4-6 6-1

January 2019: Lost to Angelique Kerber in Australian Open third round 6-1 6-0

February 2019: Lost to Madison Keys in Fed Cup singles rubber 6-2 6-2