PLAYER PROFILE

Kimberly Birrell

1
AUSTRALIAN
RANKING
112
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 year 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

Local talents headline Australian Pro Tour event on the Gold Coast
Kimberly Birrell in action. Picture: Getty Images
27 November, 2023

Top-ranked Aussie woman Kimberly Birrell is competing at an Australian Pro Tour event on the Gold Coast this week.
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Ranking movers: Duckworth edging closer to top-100 return
James Duckworth. Picture: Getty Images
20 November, 2023

In-form Australian James Duckworth is quickly climbing back up the ATP Tour singles rankings.
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Departing Molik’s upbeat message for Australian tennis
Australian captain Alicia Molik prior to the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Seville, Spain. (Getty Images)
11 November, 2023

Departing Billie Jean King Cup team captain Alicia Molik gave the job everything she had for a decade, and predicts a new generation will help Australian tennis flourish.
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Australia set for showdown with Kazakhstan at Billie Jean King Cup Finals
Daria Saville at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Spain. Picture: Getty Images
9 November, 2023

The Australian team needs to defeat Kazakhstan today to keep their 2023 Billie Jean King Cup hopes alive.
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