When Kimberly Birrell reached her maiden WTA final in Osaka, dating back to October last year, there was an inkling that the Queenslander was just getting started.
The 26-year-old carried her positive form into the 2025 season, achieving a quarter-final position at the Brisbane International and battling through three rounds of qualifying to earn entry into the Australian Open.
She brushed the disappointment of an early first-round main draw exit at Melbourne Park by reaching the quarter-finals of the Singapore Open, where she knocked out fifth-seed Polina Kudermetova along the way before flying back to her home state for an ITF W75 event.
It was there at Pat Rafter Arena where she secured her first title since May 2024, defeating fellow Aussie and close friend Maddison Inglis en route to a 6-2 4-6 7-6(2) victory.
"It was a really close match [and] a bit of a rollercoaster," Birrell told The First Serve host Brett Phillips on Monday night's radio show. "We both had periods where we played really well and then some where we didn't play our best.
"But I think that's the nature of when you get to the end of the week; you're both feeling fatigued, and it's not just about tennis in a way; it comes down to who can dig deep and who can potentially get a little bit lucky.
"I was super glad to come out on top against a really good friend. I was really happy that she's finding her form, but we both wanted to win.
Unless players are blessed by the tennis gods, chances are, they have little choice but to learn how to become a good loser.
There was a time when Birrell did everything in her power to climb the ranks, competing in lower tier events; she was fortunate enough to win multiple W25 and W60 tournaments.
As important as those titles were to boost her belief, in actual fact, it's been the narrow defeats that have helped shape Birrell's journey.
"I've been on the other side of some of those really close matches, and I know what that feels like. It's not the best feeling when you're sitting after the match and thinking back to those close moments and what you could've done differently," she admitted.
"Usually it's, 'You should have gone for your shot more' or 'I had my opportunity in that point', but that's what I've been learning.
"I've been trying to change, and I just want to have no regrets after matches whatever happens, whether it's if I get a second serve opportunity, I want to back myself, and I know my returns are one of my best assets, so even if I miss, I can live with that."
A career-high No.75 achieved after seizing her latest title means Birrell has widened the gap as Australia's No.1 ranked Aussie female in singles, an honour fully deserved.
With Olivia Gadecki behind her at No.98 and a crop of Australians lurking in the top-100, Birrell could be the catalyst to inspire the next generation to break through.
"I don't think it's really sunk in yet to be honest," she said. "[I'm] just trying to savour this moment, and I've put so much hard work in to get to this point.
"Direct acceptance into Grand Slams has been my major goal; to know that I've at least done that for the French Open and probably Wimbledon means so much.
"I don't really compare myself to the other girls, we're all on our own journey. I've really gone on a bit of a journey staying on the process of improving, so I think that's what's really showing in my results.
"Some of the girls have had their fair share of injuries in the last two years. I have no doubt that they're going to be not too far behind me. I wish them all the best, and I hope that we can all make a major push this year and get into the top-100.
"I think there's a really great vibe amongst all the girls. We work incredibly hard on-court, but off-court, we're all great people, which I think is awesome; we all get along.
"I'm stoked to be a part of it."
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