Kimberly Birrell has been selected as the fifth and final member of the Australian Billie Jean King Cup team that will head to Spain to compete in the event’s finals next week.
Malaga, Spain, 8 November 2024 | Rhys de Deugd
Set to represent her country under her role model Sam Stosur for the first time, Kimberly Birrell is beyond excited to head to Malaga in Spain for the Billie Jean King Cup Finals.
Stosur has given Birrell the nod after a breakthrough Asian swing that included a maiden WTA final in Osaka in her most successful week on tour.
The 26-year-old returns to the team after last representing Australia in the 2023 finals in the nearby Spanish city of Seville.
It was always a major goal for Birrell to rejoin the team in Malaga this year, but it was key she focused on controlling her on-court performances, which resulted in a series of milestones in the back half of the year.
“I knew that potentially that it was on the table, being in the team, but I was really trying to focus just on myself and taking each day and each match as it came,” Birrell said.
“Ever since I was a kid, representing Australia has always been one of my No.1 goals in life, and in tennis. Anytime you get the chance to represent and wear green and gold, it’s just so special.”
> READ MORE: Birrell reaches first tour final, Jones triumphs in China
The Queenslander returns to the Australian team after missing out on a spot for the home tie against Mexico in April. It will be her first time representing her nation under first-year captain Sam Stosur.
The tie will be extra special for Birrell, who has known Stosur since she was dreaming of following in her footsteps as a child.
“She’s also from the Gold Coast, so she has been a massive role model for me in my playing career,” she said.
“We chat quite a bit, so I wasn’t sure if she was going to say anything about BJK when I saw her name pop up on my phone. I was nervous and excited. My heart was pounding.
“I’m just so happy and so grateful and thankful that she, and the rest of the support staff, believe in me enough to name me.”
>VIEW: Billie Jean King Cup Finals draws and results
Birrell becomes part of the team that includes Billie Jean King Cup coach Nicole Pratt, with whom she worked one-on-one during her breakthrough week in Osaka.
“I’ve worked with Pratty for a long time, but having her one-on-one that week was so good. Spending more time with her over the…
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