Brisbane: Australian wildcard Kimberly Birrell stunned second seed Emma Navarro on Wednesday in the Brisbane International quarterfinals.
Birrell matched world number eight Navarro stroke-for-stroke on Pat Rafter Arena to put a dent in the American’s Australian Open preparations.
Navarro had a stellar 2024, going deep in all four Grand Slams including a run to the semifinals of the US Open.
She was expected to brush aside the challenge of 26-year-old Birrell, who has never broken into the top 100 in her 10 years on the WTA Tour. But the Australian, who trains at the Queensland Tennis Centre and is ranked 113, was not intimidated and delighted her home crowd with a nerveless display on centre court. Birrell, who will face 35th-ranked Russian Anastasia Potapova in the last 16, said she embraced the role of underdog. Agencies
Also Read: LeBron James Becomes First NBA player To Compete As Teenager And Over 40
Also Watch: