Embed from Getty Images

Kimberly Birrell is a WTA title winner.

The Queenslander lifted the Korea Open trophy in Seoul on Sunday with a commanding 6-4, 6-2 win over fellow Australian Maya Joint in an all-Aussie final. It is Birrell’s first WTA singles title, and she earned it the hard way — by going through another Australian to get there.

The run through Seoul was clinical from start to finish. Birrell dictated from the baseline, kept Joint on the back foot with her left-handed angles, and closed out both sets without ever really looking troubled after the early exchanges. For Joint, still very much in the early stages of her tour career, reaching a WTA final at this stage of her development is its own statement — even if the trophy went home with her compatriot.

For Birrell, this is vindication of years spent grinding her way back from a career-threatening setback.

The Queenslander had two right-elbow surgeries that kept her off tour for more than two years — she missed most of 2020 and all of 2021, playing only four events between July 2019 and January 2022. When she returned, she did it the slow way: lower-level ITF events, match by match, ranking point by ranking point.

The climb was steep but steady. In 2022 alone she won more than forty singles matches and rose from outside the top seven hundred to No.167 by year’s end — her first real signal that the comeback was going to stick. From there she kept building: back inside the top one hundred, knocking on the door of the top fifty, and now lifting her first WTA trophy at an event where she had to beat a fellow Australian to do it.

She has long been one of Australia’s most respected competitors on tour; now she has the silverware to match it.

Gibson’s breakthrough in Singapore

Across in Singapore at the WTA 500, Talia Gibson reached her first career WTA singles final.

The young Australian fell short against Canada’s Leylah Fernandez 7-5, 6-0, but simply getting to a final at this level is a milestone worth marking. Gibson took care of business through the week against seasoned tour opposition and pushed Fernandez deep into the first set before the Canadian’s class showed through.

Fernandez went on to lift her sixth career title with an eight-game run to close out the match. For Gibson, though, this week changes things — she has now played (and reached) a WTA final at twenty-something years old, with plenty of runway ahead of her.

What it means

Two Australians in two finals on opposite sides of Asia in the same week is not something that happens often. One came home with silverware; one came home with experience and ranking points that will open doors for months to come.

Either way, Australian women’s tennis had a week worth remembering.

Either way, Australian women’s tennis had a week worth remembering.

The post A Landmark Week for Australian Women’s Tennis: Birrell Wins Korea Open, Gibson Reaches Singapore Final appeared first on robiciatennis.com.

The pairing lost a tight second round match against Britain’s Joshua Paris and Marcus Willis. That was in an ATP Challenger 150 event.

Back then you would not have imagined what was to come for the 29-year-old.

He would team up with the 2023 Australian Open doubles champion, Jason Kubler at the Australian Open. They managed to go all the way to the final before losing to Christian Harrison and Neal Skupski.

Polmans who has a singles career-high ranking of no. 116 was suddenly inside the top-100 at no. 68.

He would follow up the Australian Open result by claiming a Challenger title in Brisbane with Blake Bayldon.

Another title followed in Brisbane, this time with Jake Delaney.

Polmans now at no. 58, would step up to the ATP Tour where her partnered Mackenzie McDonald in the Houston ATP 250 event, they reached the semifinals.

The next big event would be the ;ATP 500 tournament in Barcelona. Polmans would partner Romain Arneodo, reaching the semis.

That was a sign of what was soon to come.

In May that team claimed the ATP 250 title in Geneva, the first for Polmans at that level. That partnership came to an end when Arneodo suffered a wrist injury forcing them out of the French Open.

Polmans teamed up with Rinky Hijikata at Wimbledon, losing in round 2. Polmans would however reach the mixed doubles final with Storm Hunter.

Polmans then tried a new partner, Lucas Miedler from Austria.

They had know each other for many years, but this was the first time as a pairing.

They hit it off as a team, taking the ATP 250 title in Gstaad, without dropping a set.

It is always hard to back up a title when playing the next week, but Polmans and Miedler have done just that.

After some tight tie-breakers in the quarterfinal and semifinal they romped home in the final.

The title was claimed with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over third seeds Jakob Schnaitter and Mark Wallner.

“I didn’t think when we started playing together we would win our first two ATP [events],” Polmans said. “An amazing start to our partnership. Me and Lucas have just begun, but thankfully there was not another Match Tie-break today, because that could have gone either way. I really like playing with Lucas. I’ve known him for many years, since juniors, so I like being his partner.”

Polmans is the top-ranked Australian doubles player. He will rise to a career-high no. 21 on Monday.

The post Polmans red hot doubles form continues with ATP 250 title no. 3 in 2026 appeared first on robiciatennis.com.

After having not played a singles match on the ATP tour since Brisbane at the start of the year he took down world no. 36 Corentin Moutet 6-3, 6-4.

Kyrgios was dominant on serve and didn’t face a break point and he still had time to entertain the crowd with some tweeners.

Speaking after the match he said, “I feel great and motivated, (It’s) quite (an) emotional moment. I had a lot of surgeries and I’m very thrilled to be back.

“I had a wrist reconstruction, I had four knee surgeries. But I’m back mostly because of the fans. I staying for you guys”.

The former world no. 13 has a lot of fans and tennis writers excited after that display.

“One of the most sensational comebacks in Tennis today! Take a bow.”

“That was very, very impressive from Kyrgios. Much better than probably most expected,” Jose Morgado wrote.

It is just one match back in a long awaited comeback.

Kyrgios has a qaulifier in the next round where he faces Japan’s Shimabukuro Sho, the world no. 104.

Before that next singles match there is a doubles match where Kyrgios partners Alexander Bublik. That should be worth watching.

The post Nick Kyrgios tastes singles success in tennis comeback appeared first on robiciatennis.com.

Kyrgios is a wildcard in the tournament.

The 2022 Wimbledon runnerup last played in the Brisbane tournament ahead of the 2026 Australian Open.

Over recent years Kyrgios has battled to overcome various injuries including a potential career-ending wrist injury.

“All I do now is play for the fans,” Kyrgios said.

“I still have a massive following. Now, I just enjoy going out there for the fans and putting on a crazy show, seeing the kids out there, that’s basically why I’m playing now.”

After having not played from early October 2022 until June 2023, it was also at Stuttgart that the former world no. 13 made a comeback. On that occasion he lost to China’s Wu Yibing in straight sets and didn’t play again until the end of 2024.

2022 was the last time we saw Kyrgios playing at an elite level where he made the Wimbledon final, won the ATP 500 Washington title and then reached the quarterfinals at the US Open.

Kyrgios had climbed to no. 19 as at 13 February 2023. He should have been even higher, however there were no points awarded for the 2022 Wimbledon tournament. That would have been an additional 1200 rankings points.

The Australian is also playing doubles in Stuttgart where he will partner Alexander Bublik.

The post Kyrgios set to return at Stuttgart appeared first on robiciatennis.com.

Britain came into the tie without their top-ranked players who elected not to make the long journey to Australia, or were injured.

Embed from Getty Images

Fans were treated to a day filled with thrilling tennis, unexpected upsets, and fierce competition, setting the stage for an exciting tie.

In a stunning turn of events, Great Britain’s world no. 275 Mika Stojsavljevic delivered a remarkable performance, upsetting Australia’s Talia Gibson in a closely contested match.

Stojsavljevic showcased her resilience and skill, overcoming a challenging start to secure a hard-fought victory. Her ability to maintain composure under pressure was a key factor in her success, and she proved to be a formidable opponent on the court.

The 17-year-old Stojsavljevic defeated world no. 56 Gibson 7-6(4), 7-5.

The young Brit was serving for the match at 5-3, only to see Gibson mount a comeback that saw the scores at 5-5 and with the Australian having 5 break point opportunities to move ahead 6-5.

Stojsavljevic showed great composure to fight off the break points, often with an Ace. The Brit served 12 Aces to two from Gibson.

“To be honest, I haven’t watched Talia that much,” added Stojsavljevic, who was crowned US Open girls’ singles champion in 2024. “I’m not really that kind of player to analyse other players. It’s more the way that I play and what I do.

“But I know she has been playing great. I knew going into the match that we had similar game styles, so it was who played their kind of tennis better today – and I am glad I did it well.”

Adding to the drama, world no. 173 Harriet Dart also pulled off an impressive upset by defeating Australia’s world no. 80 Kimberly Birrell. Dart’s aggressive play and strategic shot selection kept Birrell on the back foot throughout the match.

The British player’s determination and focus were evident as she capitalised on crucial moments, ultimately leading her team to a strong position in the tie.

With these unexpected results, Great Britain has taken an early lead in the competition, leaving Australia with the challenge of regrouping for the upcoming matches.

The Billie Jean King Cup continues to showcase the depth of talent in women’s tennis, and both teams are eager to fight for a spot in the next round.

As the tournament progresses, fans can look forward to more thrilling encounters and potential upsets. The Billie Jean King Cup is proving to be a platform where emerging talents shine and established players face fierce competition.

Stay tuned for more updates as the action unfolds!

The post Great Britain ambushes Australia in Billie Jean King Cup opening day appeared first on robiciatennis.com.

A Humble Beginning

Ashleigh’s tennis journey began in the picturesque surroundings of Canberra, where she honed her skills on local courts. Her passion for the sport was evident from a young age, and she quickly rose through the ranks in junior competitions. After showcasing her talent, she earned a scholarship to play college tennis in the United States, where she further developed her game and gained invaluable experience.

A product of the ACT player pathway, Simes spent three and a half years on scholarship at Lee University in Tennessee, graduating with a degree in Business Management.

During her time in college, Ashleigh not only excelled on the court but also balanced her academic pursuits, demonstrating her commitment to both her education and her athletic career. This dual focus helped her cultivate a strong work ethic and a competitive mindset, essential traits for any aspiring professional athlete.

“It was amazing. It was hard the first couple of weeks because it was a completely new place. I went over there at the end of COVID and didn’t know anyone.

“But when I settled in – I was among a group of girls and a coach who pushed me to be a better person and to be part of a team. It was really special. It was like a family away from home.”

In October 2024 Simes was Lee University’s first representative at the  Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Cup. Simes would go on to claim the  Division II Women’s Singles Championship at the ITA Cup.

The AO 1pt Slam Experience

In a memorable moment that many fans still talk about, Ashleigh participated in the Australian Open 1pt Slam, a unique event that pits players against each other in a high-pressure, one-point format. While the experience was exhilarating, it also came with its challenges.

In a surprising twist, Ashleigh found herself on the receiving end of a playful embarrassment at the hands of comedian Andy Lee, who was part of the event. Despite the light-hearted nature of the moment, it served as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of sports and the importance of maintaining a sense of humor in the face of adversity.

Simes has been named ACT Player of the Year in both 2024 and 2025.

Climbing the Ranks

After the AO 1pt Slam, Ashleigh refocused her efforts on her tennis career, determined to make her mark on the professional circuit. Her hard work paid off when she made a significant impact at the Wodonga ITF W15 tournament, where she reached the finals. This impressive performance not only showcased her skills but also earned her a coveted WTA ranking, a milestone that many players aspire to achieve.

Building on her success, Ashleigh continued to compete fiercely, culminating in a remarkable victory at the Swan Hill ITF W15 tournament. Winning the title was a defining moment for Ashleigh, solidifying her status as a rising star in the tennis world. The triumph not only boosted her confidence but also opened doors for future opportunities on the professional circuit.

Simes won the title by defeating Olga Danilova from Cyprus. The final score was 6-4, 6-1.

After the Swan Hill title Simes sits at no. 931 on the live rankings, which should be updated to the official ranking soon.

Looking Ahead

As Ashleigh Simes continues her journey in tennis, her story serves as an inspiration to aspiring athletes everywhere. From her early days in Canberra to her recent successes on the ITF circuit, she exemplifies the dedication and perseverance required to succeed in a highly competitive sport. With her newfound WTA ranking and a title under her belt, the future looks bright for this talented Canberra tennis player.

As she prepares for upcoming tournaments, fans and supporters eagerly anticipate what lies ahead for Ashleigh. With her determination and skill, there’s no doubt that she will continue to make waves in the tennis community, proving that hard work and resilience can lead to remarkable achievements.

After claiming the Swan Hill ITF title Simes next will play a grass court tournament in Albury.

Also read – Simes Wins ITA Cup Singles Championship
Simes Named ITA Senior Player of the Year

The post Canberra’s Ashleigh Simes: From AO 1pt Slam to ITF Title appeared first on robiciatennis.com.

Gibson dropped serve in the opening game but then looked more steady in the third game when she held serve.

Games went with serve and it was 3-2 with Rybakina serving. Gibson got the first point of the game before Rybakina served an Ace, then forced an error to get back in control of the game. Another hold and the no. 3 seed was out to 4-2.

Embed from Getty Images

The Australian was showing that she has the power game to match it with Rybakina.

In the seventh game Rybakina had several break points and she finally converted when Gibson missed a forehand down the line.

Rybakina held serve to love to take the first set 6-2.

Gibson opened the second set in confident fashion to take an early lead, something she was not able to do in the first set.

With Rybakina serving, Gibson forced an error from her opponent for 15-30, but then an Ace and it was 30-30. A great wide serve setup Rybakina to step in near the service line and hit a winner.

Gibson would hold to love for a 2-1 lead. She was forcing errors from Rybakina. Now it needed the Australian to eat into the serve of her opponent and get a break.

Instead it would be Rybakina holding to love and then breaking to love for a 3-2 lead.

Another break come for Rybakina and she was serving for the match at 5-2. It was in this game that Gibson saw a break point, but a good wide serve that saw Gibson return short snuffed that out.

After Gibson hit wide with a shot that would have been a winner, Rybakina then served an Ace to win the match 6-2, 6-2 in just over an hour.

Gibson has plenty of top-20 wins recently, and she has now seen one of the very best. It has been a break out two weeks for the young Australian.

Just a short time ago, Gibson was battling in out in the ITF tournaments, now she has seriously upped her level and is showing her potential.

Also read – Magical run continues in Miami for Gibson

The post Rybakina show Gibson what it takes to be at the top appeared first on robiciatennis.com.

After winning six matches (two qualifiers and four main draw) in Indian Wells, Gibson has backed that up with another five wins (two qualifiers and three main draw) in Miami.

In the third round Gibson dominated Iva Jovic and took the match 6-2, 6-2.

Embed from Getty Images

Jovic, the no. 18 seed had earlier this season reached the quarterfinals at the Australian Open, however the young American has struggled a bit in recent times, including a first match loss in round two in Indian Wells.

Both players came out in all white outfits as would be seen at Wimbledon.

Jovic served in the first game of the match and was up 30-15. On the next point the American had worked her way into the net after Gibson had just floated back a return. After being in a dominant position, Jovic went for a big swing volley that she hit half way up the net.

Gibson would then hit a winner to earn a break point, before an unforced error from Jovic where she sent a forehand wide and long to give Gibson the game.

Early on you could see that Gibson possessed more power than Jovic and that would help her consolidate the break to lead 2-0. Game point was a great example of Gibson’s placement, finding the corner of the court for a winner.

Jovic got on the board in the next game, and Gibson held for a 3-1 lead.

A great wide serve came from Jovic at deuce in the seventh game. Gibson stretched wide to rocket a return winner for a break point opportunity, it was converted to see Gibson serving for the set.

Gibson was taken to deuce before holding to claim the opening set.

In the opening game of the second set, Jovic was down 0-30, and then 0-40 after hitting long. Back-to-back Aces saved two break points befor Jovic hit wide to concede the early break. Gibson held to lead 2-0.

Another break point came after a great rally from both players saw Gibson finally force and error. A second serve was not taken advantage of by Gibson and Jovic would eventually hit a winner to stay in the game.

A big return from Gibson, a feature of her game, got the Australian back to deuce after hitting a winner. Again, Gibson returned well, this time with a backhand and a forced error from Jovic saw Gibson with yet another break point.

Big hitting from the Australian saw her work her way to the net, a backhand down the line clipped the net and landed in court for a winner, and the break. It was now 3-0.

Another comfortable service hold for Gibson and she was racing towards a round four appearance in back to back WTA 1000 events.

Gibson held to love in the sixth game to take her lead to 5-1. Jovic held to make Gibson serve for the match.

The Australian took the opening point with a winner. A service return into the net from Jovic and it was 30-0.

A big serve and then another winner and it was Gibson at 40-0. The Australian missed a shot down the line which would have given her the match but then a big first serve that Jovic just managed to reach and get over the net. The ball bounced high near the net and Gibson smashed it away to claim the match.

It was yet another top-20 victory for the Australian as she raced into the fourth round.

Elena Rybakina won her match later in the day to setup a highly anticipated fourth round match.

The way Gibson is playing a win is possible, but it is a big ask for the 21-year-old Australian.

Also see – Gibson rocks on in Miami after defeating Osaka

The post Magical run continues in Miami for Gibson appeared first on robiciatennis.com.

This time the fast rising 21-year-old has defeated former world no. 1 and four time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka.

Gibson after her stunning run in reaching the quarterfinals in Indian Wells has back that up with reaching the main draw in Miami, and is into the third round.

Embed from Getty Images

Osaka opening the serving and both players showed what was to come, with some powerful groundstrokes. Osaka would hold.

In the second game Gibson had to fight off several break points. The first was saved with a good first serve that forced an error on the return. An unforced error from Gibson presented her opponent with another break point.

A backhand down the line winner saved the second. A lucky net cord saw Gibson move to game point after the ball just caught the line.

The pressure was again on the Gibson serve in the fourth game when a down the line forehand for the game was missed by Gibson. An error came on the next point for deuce, but Gibson would hold.

It was in the 11th game that Gibson made her move. Osaka hit long to fall behind 0-15. A second serve was belted back by Gibson and Osaka couldn’t hand the pace. The Japanese player was suddenly down 0-30.

An Ace got her back to 15-30, but again a missed forehand would be costly. It was now 15-40.

Gibson jumped the wrong way when Osaka served down the T. It was Ace no. 7. Another second serve for Gibson to tee off on, and she took advantage, forcing an error from Osaka.

The Australian was now serving for the first set.

Gibson got off to the perfect start, a big first serve and a return that just got back over the net. Gibson would put that away for a winner.

The pressure was back on Gibson after she netted a shot for 15-30. It was worse after a net cord sent the ball wide to give Osaka two break back points.

Osaka netted the first service return and then on the next point it was a wide first served that saw Osaka said the ball up high. Gibson hit a swing volley for a winner.

Another great shot from Gibson forced an error from her opponent and then an Ace sealed the set after 48 minutes.

In the opening game of the second set, it was Gibson that jumped to a 0-40 scoreline. A second serve Ace saw Osaka save one break point, but an unforced error from Osaka saw Gibson get the early break of serve.

The world no. 68 consolidated the break to lead 2-0. Osaka would hold to 15 to get to 2-1 with Gibson serving next.

Gibson was playing at a high level as she moved to a 4-2 lead after a second serve Ace on game point.

An Osaka hold and then a Gibson hold and it was 5-3.

The 8th game saw Gibson jump out to a 40-0 lead, before back-to-back errors saw the score at 40-30. Gibson steadied the ship with a backhand winner to seal the game.

Osaka, with the crowd behind her held serve to force Gibson to serve out the match.

A rocket of a backhand from Gibson saw Osaka look on in disbelief to open the scoring. A big forehand winner on the next point and Gibson was two points from victory.

A well placed first serve that Osaka hit long and it was three match points.

A shot into the net from Gibson and it was 40-15. A missed shot from Osaka and it was 7-5, 6-4 to the Australian.

“I was able to draw on some experiences from Indian Wells to stay calm,” said Gibson. “It’s been really cool to see what I am capable of, and it’s really exciting for me.”

Next up is no. 18 seed Iva Jovic. The winner will possibly face Elena Rybakina.

Also read – Dream run comes to an end for Gibson at Indian Wells

The post Gibson rocks on in Miami after defeating Osaka appeared first on robiciatennis.com.

After several years of college tennis in the USA, Simes is now trying to break into the professional ranks.

A few weeks ago the Canberran played and lost in round one at the W35 ITF events in Burnie and Launceston.

This week Simes has racked up several wins in the W15 ITF grass court event in Wodonga.

In the opening round she defeated the no. 2 seed Monique Barry of New Zealand. Simes winning 7-6(1), 6-4.

In round two Simes defeated Australia’s Rianna Alame 6-1, 6-1 and in the quarterfinals it was a win over Japan’s Katsumi Nanari, the final score was 6-4, 6-4.

Simes is to play Korea’s world no. 1226 Moon Jeong in the semifinals.

Also read – Jordan Smith stuns the tennis world as he takes the million dollars and the AO 1 point slam title

The post Ashleigh Simes making moves on the pro tour appeared first on robiciatennis.com.