Local favourite Kim Birrell stunned world number 35 Anastasia Potapova in the Brisbane International, advancing to the quarterfinals for the first time. Birrell displayed her powerful hitting and composure to secure a straight-sets victory.
Kim Birrell hopped into the centre of the court, a smile as wide as the Story Bridge beaming across her face as the 5,500 spectators on Pat Rafter Arena lauded her achievement. Here she is, one of their own, a Gold Coaster who trains week-in, week-out at the Queensland Tennis Centre, into the Brisbane International quarterfinals for the first time.
Birrell backed up that hugely impressive performance with another display of clean, fearless hitting on her home court to down world number 35 Anastasia Potapova in straight sets, 7-6 (7/2), 6-2 in an hour and 46 minutes. Birrell radiated joy on the court following her win and an hour's break before speaking to the press did little to dampen her exuberance.'I was really determined to back up how I played yesterday, it's just so much fun playing in front of the home crowd. The atmosphere has been incredible.Birrell had things far from her own way. Potapova, who has flirted with the world's top 20 over the past two seasons and been a top 100 player since 2018, broke the Aussie immediately and consolidated to lead 2-0. Birrell settled on her next service game and broke back immediately thereafter, the pair slugging out an hour and 6 minutes of brutal, attritional tennis before Birrell came out on top of a tie breaker. Potapova, a player who is not shy about broadcasting her emotions, was getting increasingly ragged, pointedly staring at her corner and gesticulating to all around, a stark contrast to the calm stoicism on the other side of the net from Birrell.The 26-year-old Australian broke early in the second set and, after a ferocious battle to hold, then blew past her Russian rival to complete a straight-sets victory. Two consecutive victories against opponents ranked inside the top 100 for the first time since the Mérida Open in February 2023 — it's hard to argue that this is not her leve
Tennis Brisbane International Kim Birrell Anastasia Potapova Australian Tennis
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