PLAYER PROFILE

Kimberly Birrell

8
AUSTRALIAN
RANKING
148
WTA
RANKING
  • Age26
  • Born29 April 1998
  • Birth PlaceGermany
  • LivesHope Island, QLD
  • PlaysRight-handed
  • CoachChris Mahony & John Birrell
“Super glad that we get to come out and play again – we want to stay in Melbourne for as long as possible.”

— Kimberly Birrell, 19 Jan 2025

» Birrell, Smith move into mixed doubles quarterfinals at AO 2025

On court

  • In 2012, proved herself to be an outstanding doubles player, after she won the Sydney Junior International with fellow Aussie Maddison Inglis
  • Reached the semifinals on her favourite playing surface in the doubles of Optus 14s Claycourt Championships, as well as the Grasscourt Championships (both in 2012)
  • Was the Under 16s champion in the Medibank Age Championships, as well as the Rod Laver QLD Junior Championships
  • In 2014, reached the semifinals of the Australian Open junior girls’ singles event
  • Debuted in Australia’s Fed Cup team in 2016, facing Dominika Cibulkova in the World Group II quarterfinals against Slovakia
  • As a wildcard, upset Paula Badosa and No.29 seed Donna Vekic en route to the third round at Australian Open 2019, her first Grand Slam main-draw victories
  • Missed most of the 2020 and 2021 seasons due to an elbow injury
  • Won more than 40 singles matches in a resurgent season in 2022, rising from outside the top 700 to end the year at No.167.
  • Made top-150 debut in January 2023, after reaching Australian Open second round as a wildcard (defeated No.31 seed Kaia Kanepi)
  • Won the first overseas title of her career at the ITF 60K event in Orlando, Florida in February 2023.
  • That same month, reached first WTA singles quarterfinal at Mexico, beating three top-100 players in a row as a qualifier
  • Says that one of the best things about being a tennis player is being able to travel, although she still thinks the Gold Coast is the best city in the world
  • Became Australia’s top-ranked woman in singles for the first time in August 2023
  • Made top-100 debut in singles in September 2023 and finished season as top-ranked Australian woman
  • Was among a record five Australian women to qualify at US Open 2024.

Year-end singles ranking history

2023 113
2022 167
2021 734
2020 735
2019 245
2018 285
2017 356
2016 506
2015 361
2014
2013 818

Kimberly Birrell in the news

Pro Tour: Queensland sweep as Birrell and Walton prevail in Brisbane
Kimberly Birrell and Adam Walton (Tennis Queensland)
8 hours ago

Queenslanders Kimberly Birrell and Adam Walton triumph at Pat Rafter Arena, winning their first titles for 2025 at the Brisbane QTC Tennis International.
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Ranking Movers: Birrell headlines a series of career-best weeks
Kimberly Birrell (Getty Images)
4 February, 2025

Kimberly Birrell has eclipsed her career-high ranking once again, joining several Australians who have accomplished the same feat this week.
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Pro Tour: Schoolkate, Hon maintain strong 2025 form in Brisbane
Priscilla Hon and Tristan Schoolkate (Tennis Queensland)
3 February, 2025

Tristan Schoolkate and Priscilla Hon have won their first titles of the 2025 season after claiming honours at the Queensland International this week.
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Birrell hits new heights as Aussie No.1 in Singapore
Kim Birrell of Australia serves in his assured of another career-high mark in next week's rankings following her run in Singapore. Photo: Getty Images
30 January, 2025

Australian No.1 Kim Birrell will hit a career-high ranking next week after a superb fightback to reach the quarterfinals of the Singapore Open.
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