In episode seven of Remember The Name and in an Australian Open special, we chat with Australian tennis star Kim Birrell.
After starting her career on fire and being selected for the Fed Cup team as a teenager, Birrell has struggled with an elbow injury for much of her career.
She became a household name after reaching the third round of the 2019 Australian Open and beating the seeded Donna Vekic.
However, she is now sidelined again with an elbow injury and has been forced to think about her future as she attempts to comeback yet again.
We spoke with Birrell about how she was determined not to let this latest injury stop her, the amazing reception she received during that Australian Open run and plenty more.
For more tennis and Australian Open content, head over to www.sportingnews.com/au
00:02:09 - Being born in Germany, moving to Australia
00:04:10 - Favourite surfaces to play tennis on
00:05:15 - Other sports growing up in Queensland
00:06:00 - First time picking up a tennis racquet
00:07;09 - A childhood dominated by tennis
00:09:00 - The turn to competitive tennis
00:10:50 - Balancing tennis and school
00:12:40 - How would teachers describe you at school?
00:14:40 - Making Junior ITF debut at the age of 13
00:16:10 - The importance of Junior Grand Slam tournaments
00:18:40 - Making a junior Grand Slam semifinal at home
00:20:10 - Are Aussie fans in the crowd distracting?
00:22:40 - Tennis idols growing up
00:24:05 - Making WTA debut in 2016 at home
00:25:40 - Difference of starting the season at home
00:26:40 - Making her Fed Cup debut in 2016 as a teenager
00:29:10 - Difference of playing for Australia than individually
00:31:10 - The 2019 Fed Cup Final in Perth vs France
00:32:50 - The breakthrough year of 2019
00:35:40 - What gets her through the tough points in a match
00:37:10 - Dealing with the attention of her 2019 Australian Open run
00:40:10 - Playing on Rod Laver Arena at the Australian Open
00:42:30 - Getting surprised by her idol Sally Pearson
00:46:10 - Current elbow injury and timeline for tennis return
00:49:50 - Protected ranking and working back up the rankings ladder
00:52:10 - Ever any doubts of making her return?
00:56:25 - Potential for coaching post-tennis career
00:58:00 - Going to Melbourne to watch the young up and coming Aussie women
01:00:20 - Looking toward future after tennis and a media career?
01:01:30 - Sample analysis of Inglis v Bouchard
01:02:55 - Smoke in Melbourne and playing tennis in Australia
01:04:50 - Proudest moment of her career
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