
PLAYER PROFILE
Kimberly Birrell
1
AUSTRALIAN
RANKING
RANKING
62
WTA
RANKING
RANKING
- Age27
- Born29 April 1998
- Birth PlaceGermany
- LivesHope Island, QLD
- PlaysRight-handed
- CoachChris Mahony & John Birrell
“I think clay is fun, and I’ve just got to keep reminding myself of that. It can be frustrating, but it can also be fun.”
— Kimberly Birrell, 8 May 2025
» Kimberly Birrell: Reframing attitude to clay
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
2024 | 115 |
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
Draws set for Australian stars at Roland Garros 2025

10 hours ago
The official draw has been released at Roland Garros, where Alex de Minaur leads a 15-strong Australian contingent across the men's and women's fields.
Read moreThe official draw has been released at Roland Garros, where Alex de Minaur leads a 15-strong Australian contingent across the men's and women's fields.
Aussies on clay: Developing the next generation

16 May, 2025
More than ever, Australian players coming through the developmental pathway are training on clay and travelling to play on it, shaping the way tennis is played in an…
Read moreMore than ever, Australian players coming through the developmental pathway are training on clay and travelling to play on it, shaping the way tennis is played in an…
Nicole Pratt: Living her dream coaching top Aussie women

15 May, 2025
Former world No.35 Nicole Pratt has transitioned from a successful playing career to a successful and multifaceted coaching one – something she sees as an incredible privilege.
Read moreFormer world No.35 Nicole Pratt has transitioned from a successful playing career to a successful and multifaceted coaching one – something she sees as an incredible privilege.
Kimberly Birrell: Reframing attitude to clay

8 May, 2025
In the second part of our series analysing Australian tennis on clay we spotlight Kimberly Birrell, who has chosen to embrace clay in 2025 despite it not being her…
Read moreIn the second part of our series analysing Australian tennis on clay we spotlight Kimberly Birrell, who has chosen to embrace clay in 2025 despite it not being her…