Kimberly Birrell’s Australian Open is over with the local wildcard falling to impressive Czech teenager Linda Fruhvirtova in their second-round clash.
Birrell had high hopes after she eliminated No.31 seed Kaia Kanepi in the opening round but rising star Fruhvirtova had her number from the get-go, winning 6-3 6-2.
She was the last remaining Australian woman in the singles draw after youngster Olivia Gadecki bowed out, while top-ranked Ajla Tomljanovic was forced to withdraw with a knee injury two days before the tournament began.
Fruhvirtova broke the Queenslander on her opening serve and raced to a 3-0 lead in the opening set and while 24-year-old Birrell steadied, the Czech broke her again for a 5-3 scoreline before serving for the set.
The second set followed in similar fashion with world No.87 Fruhvirtova, who ousted another Australian wildcard Jaimee Fourlis in round one, again getting the early break.
Birrell had never previously won a grand slam match and didn’t play badly, but had no luck against 17-year-old Fruhvirtova who won her first WTA title in Chennai last year to move inside the top 100.
© AAP 2023
