BIRRELL’S PERSPECTIVE AFTER BRISBANE LOSS
KIMBERLY Birrell says she needs to wind back the clock 12 months to remind herself of the progress she has made, despite her Brisbane International dream being crushed yesterday.
This time last year, Birrell was unable to take part in any match play in the highly anticipated Australian summer. She had only just stepped foot on court to make her training comeback from a nasty elbow injury that eventually required surgery.
It was a bitter pill to swallow for the promising teenager who had made her Grand Slam debut in 2016.
“I have come a really long way in a year,” she told the Bulletin.
Birrell has been progressing back to her best and was hopeful of earning a spot in the main draw of her home tournament in Brisbane – but meeting Estonian star Kaia Kanepi in the opening round of qualifying came as little help.
Kanepi, a former Brisbane International champion and a six-time Grand Slam quarter-finalist, cruised to a 6-1, 6-3 win yesterday.
But that can’t dampen Birrell’s spirits with a 2018 Australian Open berth still alive, having won a wildcard into the qualifying section of the Melbourne tournament.
Three qualifying wins and she’ll have booked a spot in the main draw.
“I am excited,” she said. “Hopefully I get an opportunity to play in the Aussie main draw. I’m sure I will in the future sometime.”
She may yet get more match practice in qualifiers at Sydney or Hobart before then. Fellow Gold Coaster Sara Tomic tasted victory yesterday but now faces Kanepi in a sudden death qualifying match for Brisbane International entry.
Tomic defeated American youngster Kayla Day 6-1, 6-1.