Australian Kimberly Birrell advances to a WTA singles quarterfinal for the second time in her career.
Seoul, Korea, 12 October 2023 | Leigh Rogers
Seoul, Korea
Kimberly Birrell is having a stellar week at a WTA 250 tournament in Seoul, where she has advanced to the quarterfinals in both singles and doubles.
This is the first time the 25-year-old from the Gold Coast has achieved this feat at a WTA-level event.
The world No.102 secured her place in the singles quarterfinals with a ruthless 6-0 6-1 victory today against local wildcard Dayeon Back.
Back, a 21-year-old ranked No.569, had stunned the tournament’s second seed, world No.13 Jelena Ostapenko, in the opening round.
Birrell dominated their second-round encounter however, winning 91 per cent of first-serve points in the 68-minute encounter.
This matches Birrell’s career-best singles result at WTA level, having made her first quarterfinal appearance at Merida in February.
To advance to a maiden tour-level semifinal, world No.102 Birrell will need to beat her doubles partner this week, American Emina Bektas.
It is a golden opportunity for both, with world No.116 Bektas also looking to advance to her first WTA singles semifinal.
> READ: Birrell reflects on career-best season
Aussies in action – Seoul
RESULTS
Women’s singles, second round
Kimberly Birrell (AUS) d [WC] Dayeon Back (KOR) 6-0 6-1
Women’s doubles, quarterfinals
[2] Marie Bouzkova (CZE)/Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA) d Kimberly Birrell (AUS)/Emina Bektas (USA) 4-6 6-3 [10-2]
COMING UP
Women’s singles, quarterfinals
Kimberly Birrell (AUS) v Emina Bektas (USA)
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