Birrell Targets Top-100 Return at Adelaide International Quarterfinals

Morgan Winslow

ago 1 hour

Birrell Targets Top-100 Return at Adelaide International Quarterfinals

Kimberly Birrell is poised to make a significant return to the WTA Top 100 rankings following her advancement to the quarterfinals of the Adelaide International. She achieved this milestone after receiving a walkover against Marketa Vondrousova. This victory follows Birrell’s successful first-round match against Anastasia Potapova, where she secured a 6-4, 6-4 win over the world No. 54.

The Queenslander had been in impressive form leading up to this stage, having previously defeated higher-ranked Rebecca Sramkova in a three-set match during the Brisbane tournament. Birrell’s performance showcases her resilience and determination, especially after struggling with injuries that sidelined her for almost three years.

Adelaide Quarterfinals Highlights

Alongside Birrell in the Adelaide quarterfinals is Maya Joint, who advanced after Ajla Tomljanovic was injured and forced to retire while leading 2-0 in the opening set. Joint expressed her disappointment for Tomljanovic, hoping for her swift recovery ahead of the upcoming Australian Open.

Maya Joint: Advanced after Tomljanovic’s retirement due to injury.
Next Match: Joint will face top seed Mirra Andreeva.

Aleksandar Vukic also progressed in the tournament, having defeated Andrea Vavassori in straight sets after an impressive first-round victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas. Unfortunately, Thanasi Kokkinakis withdrew from his second-round match due to a lingering shoulder injury.

Birrell’s Career Resurgence

2025 marked a significant year for Birrell as she reached a career-high ranking of No. 60 in May, culminating her season with a final appearance at the Chennai Open in October. She also contributed to Australia’s victories in the Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers, further building momentum as she approaches 2026.

Following her injuries, Birrell expressed feelings of uncertainty about her future in tennis. However, her perseverance has transformed her outlook. Reflecting on her journey, she mentioned, “When I got to top 100, I was like, ‘cool, it doesn’t seem like 80 is that far away now’.”

Aiming for the Australian Open

Birrell has set her sights on making the main draw of the Australian Open without relying on a wildcard or qualifying matches. With her status secured at AO 2026, maintaining her top-100 ranking could enable her automatic entry into all four Grand Slam events this year.

In her upcoming quarterfinal match, Birrell is set to face Romania’s Jaqueline Cristian, who recently knocked out Australia’s No. 2, Daria Kasatkina, with a decisive 6-4, 6-0 victory in the second round.