Kim Birrell is drawing inspiration from greats and mates Sam Stosur and Ash Barty as she looks to make her own French Open charge in Paris.
Finally fit and healthy after years battling a chronic elbow injury, Birrell was awarded Tennis Australia’s wildcard into the clay-court grand slam after climbing to the cusp of the world’s top 100.
The new Aussie No.2 faces a fellow wildcard, local hope Leolia Jeanjean, on Sunday night intent on capitalising on the opportunity.
“I’m feeling pretty pumped with where I’m at now,” Birrell told 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 same Southport club on Queensland’s Gold Coast that produced Stosur and Bernard Tomic and 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 said.
“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 remember watching her train with Dave (Taylor) and then she would get me out on court for a couple of minutes at the end of the session, hit some kickers over my head.
“It was always so fun so I’m always super grateful for Sammy.
“I’ve always looked up to her and her work ethic and to call her a friend now is really 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.
“A lot of people have opinions about who can play on clay and what not but I just think it’s more about your attitude,” she said.
“You can’t beat yourself before you step out on court. 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 well as receiving support from Stosur in recent weeks, Birrell was chuffed that Barty, the 2019 Roland Garros champion, had also reached out.
“Ash sent me a little message once I got my wildcard saying ‘you deserve it, mate’, so that is really special,” Birrell said.
“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 just awesome to know that they believe in me. It’s very cool. We’re so lucky to have such awesome role models, especially growing 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)