Australian wildcard Kimberly Birrell faces a tough challenge against higher-ranked Anhelina Kalinina in the quarterfinals of the Brisbane International. Birrell took the first set but Kalinina fought back to dominate the second. Meanwhile, Naomi Osaka has bounced back to win the second set of her quarterfinal against Hailey Baptiste.
Kimberly Birrell has the support of a vocal home crowd as she faces higher-ranked Anhelina Kalinina in the Brisbane International quarterfinals. Australia's Kim Birrell took the first set 6-4 before Ukraine's Anhelina Kalinina rallied in the second, claiming it comfortably 6-1. Kalinina didn't drop a match last year to a player outside the top 100 and it doesn't look like she's ready to start this year any different.
It's a tense quarterfinal with a lot on the line: Birrell has never made it to a WTA semifinal before. Birrell won the first set 6-4, but has let the match slip from her control in the second. Kalinia is up 5-0 in the second. Australian commentator and former player Jelena Dokic said the Aussie has lost some of the rhythm she had in the first set, while her intensity and energy levels have also dropped. Meanwhile, Naomi Osaka has bounced back to win the second set of her quarterfinal against Hailey Baptiste. The four-time major singles champion shifted gears to claim the second set 6-1 after losing the first in a tie-breaker. She's now just one set away from her maiden WTA semifinal. Birrell, the wildcard from Queensland, won her last two matches in straight sets, including knocking out the No.2 seed. American Hailey Baptiste won the first set against the seventh seed in a tie-breaker (7-2).The Ukrainian broke the Aussie to be up a game - but Birrell held her nerve. It's fairly even on Pat Rafter Arena with Anhelina Kalinina leading Aussie Kim Birrell 3-2 in the opening set.
TENNIS BRISBANE INTERNATIONAL KIM BIRRELL ANHELINA KALININA NAOMI OSAKA
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