Kanepi

The Estonian No.31 seed served for the match at 5-4 in the second set, but Birrell fought back before powering through the third set to win 3-6 7-6 (7-4) 6-1 in ...

It seemed likely that all of that big-match experience would be telling late in the second set on Tuesday, only for Birrell to turn the tide and break back for 5-5 before holding her nerve in the tiebreaker to force a decider. Kanepi, 37, drives trucks in her native country in her spare time and for much of the deciding set on Tuesday she looked like she’d rather be back there – or anywhere else really – rather than slugging it out with Birrell under the blazing sun at Kia Arena. The Estonian No.31 seed served for the match at 5-4 in the second set, but Birrell fought back before powering through the third set to win 3-6 7-6 (7-4) 6-1 in two and half hours as the temperature soared past 35 degrees at Melbourne Park.

While the Australian Open has seen local hopes' dreams dashed due to injury, it was that scenario in reverse for Kim Birrell.

It also means she will pocket at least $158,000 for reaching the second round. It was Kanepi herself who defied her ranking in 2022, with the Estonian sitting at world No.115 this time last year when she took out 16th seed and former champion Angelique Kerber in the first round, then later defeating world No.2 Aryna Sabalenka before falling ultimately falling to Iga Swiatek. Achieving a ranking of world No.154 back in 2019, Birrell was suddenly left reeling from injury, with two elbow surgeries seeing her time on the circuit wane and her ranking plummet. It was an unlikely return for Birrell, the world No.167, who hadn’t appeared in the main draw of a major since the 2021 Australian Open and hadn’t won a slam match since her third-round run back in 2019. Last year, Birrell reached the final round of Australian Open qualifying before being defeated, with her ranking at that time world No.669. It was ironic that injury would open the door for Birrell’s main draw return given it was injury that threatened to derail her career over the last three years.

Kimberly Birrell has fought back from the brink of defeat to eliminate No.31 seed Kaia Kanepi in the opening round at Australian Open 2023.

[WC] Kimberly Birrell (AUS) v Linda Fruhvirtova (CZE) [WC] Olivia Gadecki (AUS) v Marta Kostyuk (UKR) [WC] Rinky Hijikata (AUS) v [3] Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) [WC] Alexei Popyrin (AUS) v Chun-Hsin Tseng (TPE) [Q] Aleksandar Vukic (AUS) v [Q] Brandon Holt (USA) Birrell and Fourlis were among nine Australians scheduled to compete on day two at Melbourne Park. [Q] Max Purcell (AUS) v Emil Ruusuvuori (FIN) I tried to centre myself and then just take it one point at a time,” Birrell said. Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS) v Fabio Fognini (ITA) Chris O’Connell (AUS) v Jenson Brooksby (USA) “I was not expecting it at all. “No matter how resilient you are, rehab is really tough when you’ve been doing it for a year and a half,” Birrell said.

Australia's Kim Birrell has claimed her first win at a grand slam in four years, stunning 31st seed Kaia Ka...

"To be honest, I was trying not to think about it. "I know that so many people are supporting me. READ MORE:

Gutsy Queenslander Kimberly Birrell has hung tough to turn up the heat on veteran Kaia Kanepi, sending the...

Estonia's Kanepi - a 37-year-old veteran of seven major quarter-finals - served for Tuesday's match at 5-4 in the second set, but Birrell turned the encounter on its head to win 3-6 7-6 (7-4) 6-1. "But for me to get the chance to play in a major slam, especially as the money can be life-changing - I'm pretty grateful." "I did speak to someone that's friends with (Williams) and I asked if she was in Melbourne because I thought if I saw her in the locker room, I would mention to her that I was the one that ended up getting her spot and say thank you," said Birrell, who is guaranteed to pocket at least $US110,000 ($A158,500) for advancing to the second round at Melbourne Park.