Australian wildcard Kimberly Birrell delivered a stunning upset on Wednesday, toppling second seed Emma Navarro at the Brisbane International, while defending men’s champion Grigor Dimitrov cruised into the quarter-finals.
Birrell, ranked 113, defied expectations with a composed 6-4, 6-3 victory over world number eight Navarro on Pat Rafter Arena. The win is a significant boost for the 26-year-old Australian, who has yet to crack the WTA top 100 in her decade-long career.
Despite Navarro’s impressive 2024 season, which included a semi-final run at the US Open, she was unable to match Birrell’s confidence and familiarity with the Queensland Tennis Centre court.
“I just had to go for it,” said Birrell, who will face Russia’s Anastasia Potapova in the last 16. “Playing here so often definitely gave me an edge, and I felt the crowd’s energy throughout.”
On the men’s side, Dimitrov maintained his strong form, defeating Australian wildcard Aleksandar Vukic 6-2, 7-6. The 33-year-old Bulgarian, a two-time Brisbane champion, breezed through the first set before weathering a spirited second-set challenge from Vukic.
“It’s always great to play here in Brisbane,” Dimitrov said after notching his 25th career win at the tournament. “I feel good about my game, but there’s more to improve with each match.”
Dimitrov will next face either Australian Jordan Thompson or American Alex Michelson for a spot in the semi-finals.
