Kimberly Birrell hinted that she might have something up her sleeve heading into her Brisbane International match against world number eight Emma Navarro on Wednesday.

“I think I’ve got some things going my way going into the match,” she told reporters after her three-set win over Priscilla Hon.

Didn’t she ever.

World number 113 Birrell recorded just her second ever career victory over a top-10 opponent by sweeping aside the second seed American 7-5, 7-5 in a shade over two hours on Pat Rafter Arena.

The other victory also came in Brisbane against the 10th-ranked Daria Kasatkina in 2019, before injury ruined almost three years of her career.

“It’s just a number, going into the match today, I definitely reminded myself of that,” a thrilled Birrell said after the match. 

“She [Navarro] had an unbelievable year last year and absolutely deserves to be ranked where she is, but, you know, especially at the beginning of the season, anything can happen.

“I will definitely take a lot of confidence from today and just knowing that I can do it, and you always believe in yourself, but then to actually get wins on the board, I think it definitely helps.”

The pair had met just last October at the WTA125 in Hong Kong, where Navarro won in straight sets, highlighting how far she had come, not only in the past few months, but in the three years since being ravaged by injury. 

“I think it really helped me that we had played before,” Birrell said.

“I definitely identified some things that I could have done better down at my end of
the court [last time we played], and I guess I knew what I needed to do.

“I guess it’s kind of like one of those situations where you have no choice, you just have to go for it. That was kind of the attitude I had going into today.”

Birrell was brilliant from the baseline, moving her higher-ranked opponent from side to side in lengthy rallies with probing shots that kissed the lines.

In front of a crowd admittedly more subdued than at any time during the week, perhaps drowsy following Tuesday night’s  New Year’s Eve festivities, were revved up by the thrilling action on court as both women set to task.

Birrell broke Navarro six times in the contest — twice at the most crucial of points in each set — to earn the biggest win of the 26-year-old’s career, although in both sets she had to do the work twice, after being broken back while serving for the set in the first instance.

“Obviously a little bit of frustration, because you do kind of like all the hard work, and then to get broken back right away,” she said.

“You know how they say, it’s not a break until you hold. But, yeah, I just tried to not think too much about it.

“I was really glad that I got to serve for it again, especially down the same end of my box. I think that really helped keep me calm.”

Just a few years ago, Birrell, in the midst of an 18-month and then 11-month spell on the sidelines between July 2019 and January 2022, was working for Tennis Australia at the Brisbane International.

Repeated surgeries on her right elbow had Birrell questioning whether her future laid in the playing side of the sport. 

“I gained so much experience and realised how big of a sport tennis is, and it was really cool to be on the other side and experience all of that,” Birrell said. 

“It gave me, I guess, the chance to reflect and realise that I did really want to keep playing.

“There were definitely periods where I didn’t know if I was going to get back on court let alone at the level I played today. So I’m really glad that I persevered.”

The win puts her into the round of 16 at the Brisbane International for the second time in her career, following her run in 2019.

Birrell, a Gold Coast local, trains for countless hours at the Queensland Tennis Centre, saying her mum could do the drive up the M1 from the Gold Coast with her eyes closed.

It’s the local knowledge that has helped her build her confidence heading into the Australian Open, for which she will have to qualify after not being given a wildcard.

“I didn’t think too much about it,” Birrell said of not getting a wildcard.

“[It was] Probably one of the first years that it didn’t really play too much on my mind. 

“I actually had a little feeling that I may not get one, because there were so many of us that did need it and we are all ranked around the same.

“We do have some amazing juniors coming up through the ranks [and] when I was their age, I was given some opportunities from TA [Tennis Australia], so yeah, I can only worry about myself and my preseason and the training and what I needed to work on. 

“[I’m] super happy for all the girls that received them [but] I was kind of glad when I found out that I could just move on and, as I said, focus on the process. 

“I think it’s great to be playing quallies. I qualified at the US Open, so I have belief that I can do it and can’t wait to get to Melbourne.”

The way she moved against Navarro raises hopes her home court can help propel her into the world’s top 100 and beyond, through qualifying and into the main draw at Melbourne Park.

After all, she’s done it before.