PLAYER PROFILE

Kimberly Birrell

7
AUSTRALIAN
RANKING
169
WTA
RANKING
  • Age25
  • Born29 April 1998
  • Birth PlaceGermany
  • LivesHope Island, QLD
  • PlaysRight-handed
  • CoachChris Mahony & John Birrell
“It's also finding out what I'm passionate about – what I like doing and what I don't like doing as well. It's been a lot of out of my comfort zone, but it's been really fun.”

— Kimberly Birrell, 8 Mar 2020

» Play for You on International Women’s Day

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.

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

Ranking movers: Fast-rising Aussies climb to new career-highs
Olivia Gadecki, Taylah Preston and Talia Gibson all sit at new career-high rankings this week.
18 March, 2024

Promising Australian women Olivia Gadecki, Taylah Preston and Talia Gibson all sit at new career-high rankings this week.
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Aussie weekly wrap: Celebrating winners aged from 15 to 83
Alicia Smith and Tahlia Kokkinis celebrate winning an Australian Pro Tour title in Mildura. Picture: Tennis Australia
18 March, 2024

Tahlia Kokkinis, a 15-year-old from Brisbane, was among 10 Australian players to win a professional title this week.
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Ranking movers: Australian women on the rise
Taylah Preston, Arina Rodionova and Priscilla Hon are on the rise in the latest rankings.
5 February, 2024

Taylah Preston, Arina Rodionova and Priscilla Hon all make significant moves in the latest world singles rankings.
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Rodionova upsets sixth seed in opening round at Thailand Open
Arina Rodionova in action at Hua Hin. Picture: Thailand Open
31 January, 2024

Arina Rodionova scores her third top-100 victory of the season to advance at a WTA 250 tournament in Hua Hin.
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