Hobart, Australia, 6 January 2024 | Leigh Rogers

The Hobart International has been the scene of many memorable moments in Kimberly Birrell’s career.

It is where she scored her first WTA main-draw singles win, which was also her first top-100 scalp, in 2016. She also advanced to her maiden doubles final in that same year.

Now, eight years later, Birrell has made a promising start to her 2024 campaign at the WTA 250 tournament.

The 25-year-old from the Gold Coast recorded a 6-4 6-4 victory today against Romanian Jaqueline Cristian in the opening round of the women’s qualifying singles competition.

Birrell needed only 83 minutes to defeat the world No.87.

This is world No.115 Birrell’s 14th career top-100 win, of which eight have come in the past 12 months.

It sets up a final qualifying round clash with Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva, the world No.63 and a three-time Grand Slam singles quarterfinalist.

They met twice during the 2023 season, splitting the results.

Birrell is hoping to qualify to join compatriots Olivia Gadecki and Daria Saville in the main draw.

> BUY NOW: Hobart International 2024 tickets

Entry is free for fans of all ages across the Hobart International’s Family Fun Weekend, which runs from 6-7 January at the Domain Tennis Centre.

Aussies in action – Hobart

TODAY’S RESULTS
Women’s qualifying singles, first round
Kimberly Birrell (AUS) d [11] Jaqueline Cristian (ROU) 6-4 6-4
[1] Nadia Podoroska (ARG) d [WC] Elysia Bolton (AUS) 6-2 6-2
[10] Viktorija Golubic (SUI) d [WC] Alexandra Bozovic (AUS) 6-0 6-1
[12] Linda Fruhvirtova (CZE) d [WC] Alana Parnaby (AUS) 6-3 6-0

COMING UP
Women’s qualifying singles, final round
Kimberly Birrell (AUS) v [2] Yulia Putintseva (KAZ)

Women’s singles, first round
[WC] Daria Saville (AUS) v Anna Blinkova
[WC] Olivia Gadecki (AUS) v [4] Wang Xinyu (CHN)

> VIEW: Hobart International 2024 women’s singles draw

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