‘Wow, what a match’: Dream run ends for Australia’s new No.1

Australia’s newest No.1 Kim Birrell will now have to turn her attention to the Australian Open qualifiers, having squandered an early lead to bow out of the Brisbane International.

The Queenslander’s dream run to the quarterfinals came to an end on Pat Rafter Arena, where she was conquered by Ukraine’s Anhelina Kalinina 6-4, 1-6, 5-7 on Friday.

Birrell looked in strong touch en route to claiming the first set, demonstrating the same ferocity from the baseline as she did in shock triumphs of world No.8 Emma Navarro and No.35 Anastasia Potapova, before being run down.

Kim Birrell’s dream run at the Brisbane International is over.Credit: Getty Images

In the deciding set, Birrell earned a match point after winning two extensive back court rallies, before a series of errors helped Kalinina keep the clash on level pegging.

One of the most miraculous of returns at 5-5 gave the world No.48 the chance to serve for a place in the semi-finals, a forehand which looked out for all money - even to Birrell - somehow grazing the baseline.

She happily charged home from there, with her strength on serve ultimately a huge difference, winning 86 per cent of her points on her first attempt compared to Birrell’s 60 per cent.

An ability to convert when opportunities also separated the pair, with Kalinina converting three of four of break point attempts while the Gold Coast ace did so just once from six chances – missing another occasion while leading 403 in the final set.

“I actually don’t even remember the match point [I saved] because every ball was really hard to get,” Kalinina said post-game.

“I want to give credit to Kimberly because, wow, what a match. Normally when I arrive to Australia it’s so hard for me to win any match, so I’m really happy to be in the semis – I didn’t expect that.

“Whoever is in the semi-final is a very good player, dangerous, so we’re going to prepare as good as possible.”

Birrell will begin her pursuit of an Australian Open berth from January 6 when the qualifier tournament begins, having not been granted a wildcard entry.

Giant slayer emerges: How Aussie underdog became nation’s new No.1

Kim Birrell feared her career was over when repeated elbow surgeries forced her from the court for more than two years.

But from relative obscurity, the Queenslander has emerged as a bona fide giant slayer – advancing to the Brisbane International quarterfinals, her first in a WTA 500 event – courtesy of another major scalp.

Just 24 hours after she shocked world No.8 Emma Navarro in straight sets, Birrell claimed another emphatic triumph against 35th-ranked Russian Anastasia Potapova 7-6, 6-2 on Pat Rafter Arena to complete her ascent back into the top 100.

Kimberly Birrell celebrates.Credit: Getty Images

According to the WTA live rankings, the 26-year-old’s win on Thursday, during which she demonstrated great resilience after missing out on nine of 12 break point opportunities, has lifted her to No.99, overtaking Olivia Gadecki as Australia’s leading woman.

It was the second of those successful break points against Potapova which drew the biggest reaction from Birrell, shouting and fist pumping, before saving three break point opportunities the following game to charge home.

The Gold Coast player, who missed out on an Australian Open wildcard and will need to carry her form into qualifying after her Brisbane exploits, admitted if not for her family during her recovery from injury between July 2019 and January 2022 she did not believe she would ever return.

But she was unsurprised by how she had been able to “play well under pressure” and embrace the underdog tag.

“I think I was obviously the underdog yesterday, but I tried to remind myself that I was today, as well. I definitely did have expectations of myself, and was really determined to play well like I had the day before,” Birrell said.

“In the past I have had some big results, but it’s really nice to prove to myself I can play that way consistently, and that’s a really big goal of mine moving into this season. I’ve been told by people, my coaches and family, that I have that level, so now to really prove it to myself feels very good.

“I have much bigger goals than just reaching the top 100. I want to be comfortably inside the top 100.”

Birrell’s run raises questions regarding how the Australian Open wildcards are chosen, painting a similar picture to last year when the country’s then top-ranked woman, Arina Rodionova, went unrewarded.

Tennis Australia instead granted teenagers Maya Joint and Emerson Jones, veterans Daria Saville and Ajla Tomljanovic and rising star Talia Gibson automatic entry this year.

But Birrell said she held no ill-will about her situation going into qualifying matches from January 6.

“I actually had a little feeling I may not get one because there were so many of us who did need it and were all ranked around the same. A lot had great years, and we have some amazing juniors coming up through the ranks,” Birrell said.

“I was given some opportunities when I was their age, so I could only worry about myself and ... what I needed to work on. That’s what I did, and I was super happy for all the girls who received them.

“I was kind of glad when I found out, I could move on and focus on the process. I qualified at the US Open, so I have belief I can do it, and can’t wait to get to Melbourne.”