Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Kim Birrell’s hopes of claiming a second WTA title in Asia have been dashed, with the Australian copping a round-of-16 hammering in Tokyo.
Birrell, who secured her place in the WTA 500 Pan Pacific Open as a lucky loser, proved no match for Alycia Parks on Thursday.
The American qualifier, ranked No.65 in the world, romped to a 6-3 6-1 victory to book her place in the quarter-finals, where she will meet either four-time grand slam winner and local favourite Naomi Osaka or Slovakia’s Mia Pohankova.
World No.41 Birrell had trouble holding her serve on Thursday, the Australian broken five times, while only able to convert one of just two break opportunities she had against Parks.
It was a huge disappointment for Birrell, who claimed her first WTA title with a 6-4 6-2 over compatriot Maya Joint in the final of the Korea Open last month.
While Birrell’s run in Tokyo has ended, Joint remains in contention after she beat Spain’s Cristina Bucsa on Wednesday to secure her place in the quarters.
A day after ousting sixth seed Sorana Cirstea, the Australian’s gutsy 6-1 2-6 6-4 over Bucsa set up a clash with Uzbekistan’s Kamilla Rakhimova.
Ranked No.66, Rakhimova advanced with a marathon 6-4 4-6 7-6 (7-5) win over Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova.
Another Australian, Talia Gibson, also had a decent tournament, making her way to the round of 16.
Australia’s highest-ranked woman at No.38, Gibson put up a courageous fight before losing in three sets to eighth-seeded Alexandra Eala, of the Philippines.
