PLAYER PROFILE
Kimberly Birrell
8
AUSTRALIAN
RANKING
RANKING
148
WTA
RANKING
RANKING
- Age26
- 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
- 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
Aussies in action: De Minaur returns, Aussie women qualify
14 October, 2024
Alex de Minaur will play for the first time since the US Open as the top seed in Antwerp, while Ajla Tomljanovic, Olivia Gadecki and Kimberly Birrell will contest WTA…
Read moreAlex de Minaur will play for the first time since the US Open as the top seed in Antwerp, while Ajla Tomljanovic, Olivia Gadecki and Kimberly Birrell will contest WTA…
Rankings movers: O’Connell on verge of top-70 return
1 October, 2024
Christopher O’Connell’s solid week at the Tokyo ATP 500 event has elevated his current standing eight places.
Read moreChristopher O’Connell’s solid week at the Tokyo ATP 500 event has elevated his current standing eight places.
Gadecki upsets Grand Slam champion at Guadalajara
10 September, 2024
Olivia Gadecki scores a big first-round victory against American Sloane Stephens at a WTA 500 tournament in Mexico.
Read moreOlivia Gadecki scores a big first-round victory against American Sloane Stephens at a WTA 500 tournament in Mexico.
Ranking movers: Australians rewarded for US Open 2024 performances
9 September, 2024
Max Purcell, Jordan Thompson, Alexei Popyrin and Maya Joint are on the rise in the latest rankings.
Read moreMax Purcell, Jordan Thompson, Alexei Popyrin and Maya Joint are on the rise in the latest rankings.