Kimberly Birrell has been chosen because the fifth and remaining member of the Australian Billie Jean King Cup workforce that may head to Spain to compete within the occasion’s finals subsequent week.
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The Queenslander returns to the Australian workforce after lacking out on a spot for the house tie towards Mexico in April. It is going to be her first time representing her nation beneath first-year captain Sam Stosur.
The tie might be further particular for Birrell, who has identified Stosur since she was dreaming of following in her footsteps as a baby.
“She’s additionally from the Gold Coast, so she has been an enormous position mannequin for me in my taking part in profession,” she stated.
“We chat fairly a bit, so I wasn’t positive if she was going to say something about BJK after I noticed her identify pop up on my telephone. I used to be nervous and excited. My coronary heart was pounding.
“I’m simply so blissful and so grateful and grateful that she, and the remainder of the assist employees, imagine in me sufficient to call me.”
>VIEW: Billie Jean King Cup Finals attracts and results
Birrell turns into a part of the workforce that features Billie Jean King Cup coach Nicole Pratt, with whom she labored one-on-one throughout her breakthrough week in Osaka.
“I’ve labored with Pratty for a very long time, however having her one-on-one that week was so good. Spending extra time along with her over the past couple months I undoubtedly don’t assume I may have gone as far that week with out her,” Birrell stated.
“I did the very best I may and though I misplaced the ultimate, I’m nonetheless actually happy with how I plaued that week and the way exhausting I gained my matches.”
Birrell joins Ajla Tomljanovic, Olivia Gadecki, Ellen Perez and Daria Saville on the workforce, whereas 18-year-old Maya Joint was travelling with them in inexperienced and gold for the primary time as Orange Woman.
“She (Joint) is an incredible participant, however an excellent higher individual off the courtroom. She embodies so lots of the qualities the workforce bases itself round,” Birrell famous.
“She completely deserves it along with her outcomes on courtroom this yr, and I’ve spoken to her since she discovered she was additionally going to Spain, and I do know she’s actually excited.”
Australia will play the winner of the USA and Slovakia within the Billie Jean King Cup quarterfinals on 17 November.
The tie will kick off at 8pm AEST and might be broadcasted reside on the 9 Community and Stan Sport.
Discover your strategy to play: Go to play.tennis.com.au to get out on courtroom and have some enjoyable!
