Australian Open 2022: Kim Birrell optimistic despite losing final-round qualifying match to Great Britain’s Harriet Dart

Kim Birrell’s resurgent week at Melbourne Park came to an end in final-round qualifying to British rival Harriet Dart

Kim Birrell’s Australian Open qualifying bid has fallen at the final hurdle, the Queenslander losing in straight sets to British 11th seed Harriet Dart on Friday.

Birrell looked set to mount a fightback when she went a break up in the second set, but Dart reeled off five of the last six games to clinch a 6-3 6-3 victory and main draw berth.

The Australian Fed Cup representative won consecutive matches this week in a reminder of her promise after a torrid 30 months with a right elbow injury that twice required surgery.

She had played only six times since the 2019 edition of Wimbledon – all last February – until her matches in Melbourne this week and last.

Birrell continues to wear extensive strapping around her elbow but avoided an operation last year when she again had to take time off the tour.

Kim Birrell’s resurgent week on court ended in the final round of Australian Open qualifying. Picture: Getty Images

“I think I’ve had a really great week, considering all of the adversity I’ve gone through last year and to even just step out on the court and play one match was amazing,” Birrell said.

“I’m super proud of myself and the way that I’ve performed and the effort that I’ve put in. I will definitely take a lot of positives out of my last two matches, and even today, even though the result didn’t go my way.

“Hopefully, this has set me up for a really positive year and I’m, of course, disappointed but I’ll definitely let it sink in and then try to take all the positives that I can.”

The 23-year-old was typically aggressive from the baseline against Dart, but the difference on Friday to her earlier matches was the number of unforced errors that flowed from her racquet.

Birrell made four such errors in a row, including a double fault, to concede the opening set from 40-15.

Kim Birrell, pictured left with Germany’s Angie Kerber after their third-round Australian Open match in 2019, hopes she can play a full schedule this year. Picture: AFP

She also didn’t capitalise as much as she probably could have on Dart’s second serve, which came down at an average of only 112km/h – and often slower.

What Dart did do well was make an impact on her first serve, hitting four of her six aces as she surged from behind in the second set to eliminate Birrell.

Birrell barely won 40 per cent of the points on her first and second serves and conceded a break seven out of the nine times she had the ball in hand.

That constant pressure made life difficult for the Australian, particularly as she struggled to make inroads on Dart’s first serve.

But Birrell is hopeful this is just the start of her latest rebirth as a player, having parted ways with Tennis Australia and preparing to travel with hitting partner Tommy Hamilton.

Matt Ebden is the last local hope in Australian Open qualifying. Picture: Getty Images

Her right elbow will require constant management but she said she was feeling “really good about it”.

“I don’t want to dwell on the past too much,” Birrell said.

“I’m super ready to just have a really positive year ... this week has only set me up for a really great year and I’m keen to get on the road, because I haven’t traveled for such a long time.

“I’m keen to just get some momentum and play some more matches, as many matches as I can.”

Veteran West Australian Matt Ebden is the last local qualifying hope, with his match against Slovakian second seed Norbert Gombos set to be played late on Friday.

Bernard Tomic (2021), Max Purcell (2020) and Thanasi Kokkinakis (2019) ensured an Australian man qualified at the past three Australian Opens.