Kim Birrell holds her nerve in three-set thriller to progress at Brisbane International

Australian Kimberly Birrell has opened her 2026 account in style, outlasting Slovakia's Rebecca Sramkova in a three-set thriller at the Brisbane International on Monday.

Proving the more disciplined player in the crunch moments, Birrell withstood Sramkova 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 in a marathon encounter lasting two hours and 16 minutes.

"A great win to start the season," Jelena Dokic said in commentary for Nine.

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"An important one for her going into the Australian Open."

Sramkova seized an immediate break of serve and consolidated with ease to race into a commanding 3-0 lead in the opening set.

However, Birrell began fighting her way back into the contest, capitalising on a timely double fault from Sramkova in the fifth game to reclaim the break and pull the set back on serve.

That spark ignited a masterclass in composure that saw Birrell claim four straight games, turning the set on its head to lead 4-3.

The Aussie tennis summer kicks off with the 2026 United Cup from Friday, January 2. Watch it live and free on Nine and 9Now.

The tension peaked in a gruelling eighth game punctuated by four deuces, where Birrell weathered the storm to hold serve after being pushed to the limit by the Slovakian.

While Sramkova continued dictating play with a lethal forehand to force Birrell onto the back foot, the Slovakian's aggressive game plan frequently flirted with disaster, resulting in as many errors as it did winners.

Ultimately, despite a momentary lapse with a double fault on set point, Birrell held her nerve to wrap up the first set 6-4 after a high-intensity 48-minute battle.

In a repeat of the first set, Sramkova broke early and consolidated, displaying greater discipline to outlast Birrell in the longer rallies.

Birrell refused to fade, however, digging deep to save two break points in a tense fourth game before fighting through deuce to hold serve and get on the board.

Briefly threatening a repeat of her first-set heroics, Birrell then broke back to narrow the gap to 3-4.

But the comeback was short-lived as Sramkova immediately struck back, breaking the 27-year-old to serve for the set at 5-3.

Refusing to go away, Sramkova duly clinched the second set 6-3 to level the match and force a decider.

After Birrell opened the decider with a clinical hold following a drawn-out toilet break, the match transformed into a battle of wills.

Both players hold firm under immense pressure as the tension inside Pat Rafter Arena reaches a fever pitch.

The breakthrough finally arrived in the fourth game; capitalising on another lapse from Sramkova, Birrell weathered three deuces to secure the break as Sramkova double-faulted.

So locked in was Birrell that after a killer forehand she failed to realise she had won the fifth game, completely oblivious as the chair umpire called out several times to inform her the game was over.

With a 5-3 cushion, Birrell made no mistake as she coolly served out the match to secure a hard-fought victory.

Up next for Birrell is a blockbuster second-round clash with American star and the tournamen't's second seed Amanda Anisimova