PLAYER PROFILE

Kimberly Birrell

8
AUSTRALIAN
RANKING
148
WTA
RANKING
  • Age26
  • Born29 April 1998
  • Birth PlaceGermany
  • LivesHope Island, QLD
  • PlaysRight-handed
  • CoachChris Mahony & John Birrell
“I think it's really special that we're all great mates off court, and all the girls are such good people, and people I genuinely want to be around all the time – it's not hard when we get to be together as a team.”

— Kimberly Birrell, 6 Mar 2025

» Top-ranked Birrell embodying camaraderie among Aussie women

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

Kyrgios returns to winners’ list in Miami
Nick Kyrgios beat Mackenzie McDonald in the first round of the Miami Open. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images)
20 March, 2025

Nick Kyrgios recorded his first win since October 2022 after coming from a set down to defeat American Mackenzie McDonald.
Read more
Another healthy Aussie contingent to compete in Miami
Alex de Minaur (Photo by TENNIS AUSTRALIA/JAMES GOURLEY)
18 March, 2025

The combined ATP and WTA 1000 tournament in Miami will have a strong Australian flavour this week, with at least nine Aussie securing a main-draw berth.
Read more
Ranking Movers: Inglis’ boost after Indian Wells delight
Maddison Inglish in action at Indian Wells. (Getty Images)
18 March, 2025

Maddison Inglis records her best ranking of 2025 following her WTA 1000 main-draw debut at Indian Wells.
Read more
Culture Amp Australian Billie Jean King Cup team announced for Brisbane
Maya Joint will make her debut for Australia in Brisbane's Billie Jean King Cup tie in April. (Getty Images)
14 March, 2025

Maya Joint, Ajla Tomljanovic, Ellen Perez and Storm Hunter will join Kimberly Birrell to represent Australia at Pat Rafter Arena on 10-12 April 2025.
Read more
read more articles