PLAYER PROFILE

Kimberly Birrell

1
AUSTRALIAN
RANKING
62
WTA
RANKING
  • Age27
  • Born29 April 1998
  • Birth PlaceGermany
  • LivesHope Island, QLD
  • PlaysRight-handed
  • CoachChris Mahony & John Birrell
“I think clay is fun, and I’ve just got to keep reminding myself of that. It can be frustrating, but it can also be fun.”

— Kimberly Birrell, 8 May 2025

» Kimberly Birrell: Reframing attitude to clay

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

2024 115
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

Aussie Watch: Six Australians embark on Queen’s journey
Alexei Popyrin and Alex de Minaur (Getty Images)
16 June, 2025

A large Australian contingent will take to the court at Queen's Club, headlining a plethora of players looking to gain form prior to Wimbledon.
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Perez, Ebden, Thompson reach grasscourt doubles semifinals
Ellen Perez (Getty Images)
13 June, 2025

Top-50 doubles players Ellen Perez, Matt Ebden and Jordan Thompson garnered quarterfinal victories in Queen’s and s-Hertogenbosch, respectively, on Thursday.
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Almost 30 Australians bound for Wimbledon
Alex de Minaur in action en route to the 2024 Wimbledon quarterfinals. [Getty Images]
10 June, 2025

Thirteen Aussies are confirmed for the main draw at the 2025 Wimbledon Championships, with another 16 attempting to join them there via the qualifying event.
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Tomljanovic, Popyrin vying to extend Roland Garros 2025 campaigns
Ajla Tomljanovic (Mark Peterson/Tennis Australia)
28 May, 2025

Ajla Tomljanovic and Alexei Popyrin will hope to build on their opening-round victories on Day 4 of Roland Garros 2025.  
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