Aus Open: Kimberly Birrell eliminated by lucky loser Eva Lys

Australia’s top-ranked player says an opponent’s shock decision just minutes before her first-round defeat left her “rattled”.

A devastated Kimberly Birrell says she “takes responsibility” for her shock first-round exit to a lucky loser after her seeded opponent pulled the pin just minutes before she was due to step on court.

Birrell was preparing to take on No. 13 seed Anna Kalinskaya when the Russian withdrew for an undisclosed reason just before the end of the preceding men’s clash on Kia Arena.

Instead she was handed a golden opportunity to reach the second round against German lucky loser Eva Lys, but the 26-year-old Queenslander was comprehensively beaten 6-2, 6-2 as her frustrations boiled over on Tuesday.

Birrell, who became Australia’s top-ranked female player this month following a superb run to the Brisbane International quarter-finals, was in tears post-match as she conceded the change of opponent at such late notice had left her “rattled” and allowed world No. 128 Lys to dictate terms.

Australian star Kimberly Birrell says nerves affected her badly after her opponent was changed with about 10 minute’s notice before her first-round clash at Melbourne Park. Picture: Michael Klein

“I have no idea what the reason was (for Kalinskaya’s withdrawal), and I couldn’t give you an exact time – I know that it was not very long before the end of the men’s match,” she said.

“Absolutely (it threw me). I had prepared to play Anna – she’s a really amazing player, and I knew that I was in for a battle against her.

“I had done my research and spoke a lot with my team. Unfortunately that isn’t who I faced today, and to find out she withdrew and I was playing someone completely different, it did rattle me unfortunately.

“In saying that, (Lys) was in the same position as me – she didn’t know she was going to be playing.

“So we were both put in pretty tough situations, and I take responsibility for not handling that.

“(Lys) played really well, she came out swinging – and I didn’t have my best day.”

Kalinskaya, who is the partner of men’s world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, had retired mid-match during the Adelaide International last week, again for an undisclosed reason.

Lys, who said she was on a massage table when she received the news 10 minutes before the start of the match, was also not told why Kalinskaya had withdrawn.

Eva Lys was on a massage table receiving treatment 10 minutes before she was called into the main draw to replace Anna Kalinskaya. Now she’s through to the second round. Picture: Yuichi Yamazaki / AFP

“I was panicking a little bit because I didn’t really prepare my drinks, I didn’t have match clothes on,” the 23-year-old German said.

“So no warm-up, no anything – maybe that’s the key for next match.

I went out and had no expectations. So I think that definitely helps. And for my opponent it was definitely tough to have the opponent switch because if you know who you are playing, you’re preparing for ages.”

Birrell broke down as she described her reaction to the change of opponent following the elation of her successful qualifying run last week.

“It just got away from me – beforehand my nerves elevated quite a bit, and then when you’ve got the nerves going, your tendency is to do the opposite of what you need to,” she said.

“It was one of those tough situations, and something that I can definitely learn from.

“To have a day like today is a hard pill to swallow, but it happens – I definitely don’t want this to be the memory that I take from this AO swing – I want to remember the good matches (in qualifying) and the amazing times I’ve had with my family and with the crowd.

“I have doubles coming up, so obviously I’m going to get all of this out, feel the disappointment, and then I will pick myself up and go again.”