AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 14, 2025

Kimberly Birrell

Press Conference

E. LYS/K. Birrell

6-2, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Kim, it's not the result you wanted today, but to come from quallies to have another opportunity to play at your home Grand Slam, what reflections, what positives can you take from your experience?

KIMBERLY BIRRELL: Yeah, obviously super disappointed to not play my best today. It was a tough situation. If I could play the match again, I would love that.

I think it could have gone differently, but you know, it is what it is. I'm really proud of the way that I fought through quallies and to even get to the first round and have the last couple of weeks that I've had. I'm definitely going to look at the positives and, yeah, remember those awesome memories that I have had.

Q. How soon before the match did you hear about the change of opponent, and do you know what the reason was?

KIMBERLY BIRRELL: Oh, I have no idea what the reason was. I couldn't give you an exact time. I know that it was not very long before the end of the men's match. I know Eva said five minutes. It felt like five minutes, but I'm not exactly sure exactly how long.

Q. Did that throw you, though, Kim?

KIMBERLY BIRRELL: Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. I had prepared to play Anna. She's a really amazing player. I knew that I was in for a battle against her, and I had done my research and spoke a lot with my team. Unfortunately, that isn't who I faced today.

Then to find out that she withdrew and that I was playing someone completely different, it did rattle me, unfortunately. But, in saying that, she was in the same position as me. She didn't know that she was going to be playing, so we were both put in pretty tough situations.

I take responsibility for not handling that, and credit to her. I think Eva played really well. She came out swinging. I didn't have my best day.

Q. It all seemed to happen so fast, Kim. I imagine it felt like if you could slow it up a bit, did it feel like a run-away?

KIMBERLY BIRRELL: Yeah, it did. It felt like it just got away from me. You know, beforehand I think my nerves elevated quite a bit. Then when you've got the nerves going, your tendency is to do the opposite of what you need to, and you just sort of rush.

It is one of those tough situations and something that I can definitely learn from.

Q. Did you leave the court after the first set? Were you trying to get a refresh or a reset coming out for the second?

KIMBERLY BIRRELL: Maybe. I always need to pee during matches, to be honest. I went to the bathroom, which is within the rules, and definitely washed my face and had a little look in the mirror and told myself to try to stay calm and that I had a whole other set to play and that I could turn it around.

But, you know, she came out swinging again in the second set. I think she had a really good start to the set, and missed a few first serves, and those three games really got away from me.

It was unfortunate. It wasn't my best day.

Q. Was there a bit of, like, residual fatigue from having to play quallies, or did you feel good going out or before the change of player?

KIMBERLY BIRRELL: No, I woke up feeling really good today. Obviously I played a lot of matches in the last two weeks, and going deep in Brissie, and then having to back up and play here did take a lot physically and mentally.

I'm really proud of the effort that I put in to get through the quallies matches. Obviously a lot of emotions and then to reset and go again this week was a huge effort. But I did feel a lot fresher today and was super grateful to be on the bottom half and have that extra couple of days to rest and recover.

Q. Kim, you're smiling, but it seems like it was a disappointing day.

KIMBERLY BIRRELL: Yeah.

Q. Your eyes are welling up a bit.

KIMBERLY BIRRELL: Yeah (laughing).

Q. Just take us through the hurt and the disappointment.

KIMBERLY BIRRELL: Sorry, I didn't want to cry (laughing). Obviously I'm an emotional person. I'm human. I put a lot of hard work and effort into this sport, and then to obviously also play some really good matches and then have a day like today is a hard pill to swallow.

It happens. Like I said, I definitely don't want this to be the memory that I take from this AO swing. I want to remember -- sorry -- the good matches and amazing times I've had with my family and with the crowd. Then I've got doubles coming up, so obviously I'm going to get all of this out and feel the disappointment, and then I will pick myself back up and go again. Sorry.

Q. What are you looking at for this year?

KIMBERLY BIRRELL: It's obviously going to be a huge year. It's a very long season. I'm really excited. I think that I've improved quite a lot, and I'm very clear and motivated moving forward.

I think that if I can continue the way that I've been going with the belief in myself and in my game that it is only going to be good things to come from this year.

Q. The run in Brisbane, obviously, was amazing. Is that a good reminder to yourself of what you are capable of, and is that sort of the part of the summer that you take with you?

KIMBERLY BIRRELL: Yeah, absolutely. I've had so many awesome matches in Brissie. I think that's some of the best tennis that I have ever played. I definitely focus and remind myself of those moments and take the belief moving forward into the rest of the season.