Birrell revels in long-awaited Australia return after injury nightmare
04/11/2023 14:04
Kimberley Birrell is set to make her first Billie Jean King Cup appearance for Australia since 2019 – and it has been a rocky road in the meantime
By Ross McLean
When Kimberly Birrell was in the middle of an injury nightmare, battling to save her career following two bouts of elbow surgery, dreams of representing Australia again remained – but they were fading.
Between July 2019 and January 2022, Birrell only played four events and won two competitive matches as an 18-month and then 11-month spell on the sidelines threatened to devastate her tennis-playing dreams. Times were tough.
Injury struck at a time when Birrell was beginning to announce herself on the world stage. In January 2019, while aged just 20, she had a giant-killing run to the Australian Open third round after defeating Spain’s Paula Badosa and Donna Vekic of Croatia.
Within weeks, she returned to Australia’s Billie Jean King Cup team for their quarter-final clash with the United States in Asheville, a tie which Alicia Molik’s outfit won as they progressed to that year’s final. However, not long after injury struck and her career was in tatters.
Birrell, however, is a fighter and battled back from the brink. She is now enjoying a new lease of life, claiming two ITF World Tennis Tour titles this season, breaking into the Top 100 and earning a recall to Australia’s Billie Jean King Cup team.
Indeed, the 25-year-old is the highest-ranked singles player within an Australia team which finished runners-up 12 months and will be looking to make their presence felt at the 2023 Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Finals. It is quite the turnround.
“There were many moments during the tough days that I thought about the times I played for Australia,” Birrell told billiejeankingcup.com. “I didn’t know if I would ever be in this position again, so it means even more to me given what I went through with injuries. In fact, it is surreal.
“While I was injured, I went to watch the girls play in the 2019 final in Perth, was kept in the loop and was made to feel part of the team. Last year, I watched as many matches as I could, and I am over the moon to be here.
“This week we are concentrating on the job we’re here to do, but I will definitely take some time to reflect on my whole journey of getting back here and it is even more special that it is Alicia’s last week as our Billie Jean King Cup captain.
“She was the one who handed me my tracksuit and my Billie Jean King Cup number. I am absolutely loving this week so far and I am having the best time. It is such a privilege and honour to represent Australia again.”
Birrel’s injury horror started to unfold during 2019 and by the beginning of 2022 she had slumped as low as No. 740 in the world rankings. It felt a long way back, and it was far from easy, but Birrell summoned the necessary strength.
“It was a hellish period, and I certainly don’t have fond memories of that time,” she said. “There was also a time when I thought I may not make it back, that tennis wasn’t going to be my path and my career may be over.
“I have really high standards for myself, and I wasn’t sure if I did get back whether I could play to the best of my ability, especially in terms of my serve, and whether I was okay with certain aspects of my game not being where they were.
“That took some thinking about, and I needed time away from tennis and my rehab. But I guess I had to think about what my life would look like without tennis, and I preferred the idea of me playing tennis.
“When I came back last year, I wasn’t playing at my best, but I had to jump off the deep end. As time has gone on, my elbow has improved and my serve is now at a level I am really proud of. It is crazy to think I may not even have come back to tennis.”
Birrell lifted silverware for the first time in four years at W60 Playford in October 2022, while she also topped the podium in February at W60 Orlando and again in July at W25 Cantanhede.
Her form has seen her force her way into the Top 100 of the WTA Rankings for the first time, something which seemed unlikely a few years ago but something which has given her additional impetus.
“I am so excited about the future and what I may be able to achieve going forward,” added Birrell. “Towards the end of last year, I really started to believe in my game and gained some momentum.
“It was a really big achievement for me to reach the Top 100. Two years ago, If someone had offered that, I would have taken it and run. It was actually a really nice moment when I found out as I was on holiday with my family.
“I got a text message with a screenshot of my name and my ranking, and the messages started to flood in from friends and Aussie tennis players. John Millman was one of the first to message and I thought it was really cool of him to acknowledge that.
“It was really special but hopefully it is just the beginning. The injury was tough, but it has made me into the person I am today and made me a real fighter."
Australia will very much hope to see Birrell's combative side when they begin their 2023 Billie Jean King Cup Finals campaign against Slovenia on Tuesday.
