Birrell and Gadecki set an all-Australian semifinal at the ACT Clay Court International #1

An Australian will be in the final of the ACT Clay Court International after Olivia Gadecki and Kimberly Birrell booked a semifinal berth where they will face each other.

They took different paths to claim quarterfinal victories.

First Gadecki quickly wrapped up her match 6-3, 6-1 against Korea’s Han Na-Lae.

Birrell instead slogged out a 6-2, 6-7(7), 6-4 victory that took 3 hours 41 minutes. Gadecki took just 1 hour 30 minutes to claim her victory.

In the other quarterfinals, the Australians were defeated.

Ellen Perez lost to Japan’s Kurumi Nara 5-7, 6-2, 6-3.

Jaimee Fourlis was defeated by Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima 7-5, 6-4. Fourlis was serving for the first set at 5-4 and was up a break in the second.

The semifinals see the two Australians face each other after the two Japanese players take to the court.

Nara leads the head-to-head 1-0 against Uchijima.

Gadecki is looking to win her first title at this level. She has won a W25 and W15 (clay) in 2021.

Birrell has won the $60,000 Darwin title in 2018 and the $25,000 Brisbane title in 2017, both titles on hard courts.

Gadecki leads the head-to-head with two wins over Birrell in 2022, both coming in the first round on hard courts, both wins coming in tight three-set matches.

Uchijima has won five titles at W25 and W15 levels, all on hard courts.

The 30-year-old Nara has won 7 titles on various surfaces including the $80,000 Gifu title in 2018, that being her last ITF title.

More photos from this tournament can be viewed at https://www.robiciatennisphotography.com/2022-ACT-Clay-Court-International-1/