German star Angelique Kerber backs Kimberly Birrell to break into the world’s top 100

Kimberly Birrell has gone from sharing a car with her mother to picking up six figures in prizemoney at the Australian Open. But what is the Aussie without a set of wheels going to spend her money on?

Kerber

It’s the moment Kimberly Birrell will remember for the rest of her life.

The young Australian might have walked off Rod Laver Arena having been comprehensively beaten by one of the best players in the world, but the walk onto the Australian Open’s prized arena is something to tell the grandkids.

“Probably just walking out on the court tonight, hearing everyone clapping, them saying my name (has been the best part of the week),” Birrell said.

“It was such a surreal experience.

“I'm still going to be replaying that moment over and over in my head forever probably. I'll never forget it. Just to have my friends and my family, all of the support from everybody the last few weeks has been incredible. I'm super grateful.”

Birrell said she wouldn’t have believed it if 10 years ago someone had told her she would be playing a showcase match on a Friday night on centre court.

“It’s definitely going to be sinking in, what just happened,” she said.

“I’m definitely going to be looking back at that moment for the rest of my life. It was a dream come true.”

The 6-1 6-0 defeat left Birrell battered, she said, as if she’d played a tough three-setter.

Kimberly Birrell lost her third round match. Picture: Getty Images

That was the lesson from German star and 2016 Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber – one Birrell intends to put into use immediately.

“I think as soon as I walked off the court and I saw my team, I said, ‘I need to get so much fitter’,” she said.

“That was what really hit me first, is how well she retrieved. As I said, she just makes you play an extra shot in each rally.“I mean, today was 6-1, 6-0, and I feel like I kind of played a three-setter almost. We had some really long rallies. I feel like I showed a little bit of some good tennis, but I just wasn't able to sustain that level.

“That's something you need to be able to do against these top women, incredible players.“I just have a lot of work to do now. It’s still early in my career. Hopefully I have a long way to go.”

The Queenslander had been sharing a car with her mum in recent years and said she would put her $155,000 payday toward one of her own, but is yet to make any call on a set of wheels – it just better have a good reversing camera.

“Not yet,” she laughed.

“That's definitely going to be on the agenda, though, in the next couple of weeks as soon as I get home. But, yeah, we've been talking about it a little bit. I definitely need a smaller car with the reversing camera because I need all the help I can get with parking.”

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