Kim Birrell is drawing inspiration from greats and mates Sam Stosur and Ash Barty as she seems to make her personal French Open cost in Paris.
Finally match and wholesome after years battling a power elbow damage, Birrell was awarded Tennis Australia’s wildcard into the clay-court grand slam after climbing to the cusp of the world’s prime 100.
The new Aussie No.2 faces a fellow wildcard, native hope Leolia Jeanjean, on Sunday evening intent on capitalising on the chance.
“I’m feeling pretty pumped with where I’m at now,” Birrell informed AAP.
“Honestly, I don’t know if I really have ever played my best tennis yet. Maybe at the end of 2018, the start of 2019 but I only scratched the surface then.”
The 25-year-old hails from the identical Southport membership on Queensland’s Gold Coast that produced Stosur and Bernard Tomic and he or she grew up idolising Stosur, the 2010 French Open runner-up and four-time semi-finalist.
“I spent a lot of time watching her and have such fond memories of watching her at Roland Garros the first year she made the semi-finals,” Birrell stated.
“We were here on a family holiday and got to take lots of photos and what-not. She’s been so generous with her time with me.
“I keep in mind watching her practice with Dave (Taylor) after which she would get me out on court docket for a few minutes on the finish of the session, hit some kickers over my head.
“It was always so fun so I’m always super grateful for Sammy.
“I’ve at all times regarded as much as her and her work ethic and to name her a buddy now’s actually cool.”
Once dubbed a future Wimbledon champion, Stosur took years to develop her clay-court game and Birrell believes the key to succeeding on the slow surface is all in the head.
“Lots of people have opinions about who can play on clay and what not however I simply suppose it is extra about your angle,” she stated.
“You cannot beat your self earlier than you step out on court docket. It’s such a neutraliser.
“So I’m feeling really fit, which I think helps, and aggressive baseliners have had a lot of success at Roland Garros over the years so there’s no reason why I can’t do some damage on clay.”
As properly as receiving assist from Stosur in latest weeks, Birrell was happy that Barty, the 2019 Roland Garros champion, had additionally reached out.
“Ash sent me a little message once I got my wildcard saying ‘you deserve it, mate’, so that is really special,” Birrell stated.
“I don’t even know how she has the time to send a message but I’m not sure she realises how far it goes.
“It’s simply superior to know that they imagine in me. It’s very cool. We’re so fortunate to have such superior position fashions, particularly rising up in Queensland.”
AUSTRALIANS IN ACTION ON DAY ONE AT ROLAND GAROOS (beginning 1900 AEST Sunday)
Kim Birrell v Leolia JeanJean (Fra)
Storm Hunter v Nuria Parrizas Diaz (Esp)
Jason Kubler v Facundo Diaz Acosta (Arg)
Thanasi Kokkinakis v 20-Dan Evans (Gbr)
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
