Kim Birrell exits Australian Open, Emerson Jones impressive in loss to Elena Rybakina

Australian qualifier Kim Birrell wishes she could re-do the day after going down to lucky loser Eva Lys in straight sets, admitting she was rattled by the last-minute change of opponents.

Birrell's original opponent in the Australian Open first round was 13th seed Anna Kalinskaya, who was a late out.

Within five minutes, the 26-year-old Australian went from being the underdog with nothing to lose to the favourite, with an eager home crowd expecting her to beat a lowly ranked and relatively unknown opponent.

Lys, who was beaten by fellow Australian Destanee Aiava in round three of qualifying last week, pulled off the 6-2, 6-2 victory in just 70 minutes.

"Super disappointed to not play my best today," Birrell said in an emotional media conference.

"It was a tough situation. If I could play the match again, I would love that.

"I think it could have gone differently, but it is what it is. I'm really proud of the way that I fought through quallies and to even get to the first round and have the last couple of weeks that I've had.

"I'm definitely going to look at the positives and remember those awesome memories that I have had."

Kim Birrell had a last-minute change of opponent for her first-round match. (Frank Molter: Getty)

Birrell was not sure of exactly how soon before the match she found out about the change of opponent, but said it felt like mere minutes.

"I had prepared to play Anna. She's a really amazing player," Birrell said.

"I knew that I was in for a battle against her, and I had done my research and spoke a lot with my team. Unfortunately, that isn't who I faced today.

"It did rattle me, unfortunately. But, in saying that, she (Lys) was in the same position as me. She didn't know that she was going to be playing, so we were both put in pretty tough situations.

"I take responsibility for not handling that, and credit to her."

Birrell started shaky and never recovered. Lys, on the other hand, was equal parts ecstatic and gracious in victory.

"I actually had my flight back [home] booked tomorrow morning," Lys said in her post-match interview.

"I found out about the match five minutes before it started, so I had to get changed really quick.

"Kim is such an amazing person. I was so sad because it's always tough to not know who you're going to play.

"She was preparing the whole time to play against another opponent, so I think it definitely was also not easy for her."

'Welcome to the big time Emerson'

Emerson Jones of Australia delivered a gutsy performance in her first grand slam match. (Hannah Peters: Getty Images)

Meanwhile, 16-year-old Emerson Jones was defeated by sixth seed Elena Rybakina but impressed fans and commentators with a gutsy performance in her grand slam debt.

She looked promising heading into her first grand-slam main draw.

The teenager from Queensland rose to world number one in the junior girls' rankings after an impressive 2024 season — the first Australian to achieve the feat since Jelena Dokic in 1998 — which earned her a wildcard to this year's Open.

Many were hopeful of her entry into the big leagues, including Australian former US Open champion Sam Stosur, particularly after she upset world number 37 Wang Xin from China in straight sets in the opening round of the Adelaide International.

Aiava's win to make a 'world of difference' Photo shows Destanee Aiava pumps here fist at the Australian Open. Ranked 195 in the world, Destanee Aiava's gripping first-round win at Melbourne Park will go a long way to funding her 2025 season and building her confidence.

Then the draw came out and Jones was paired with grand slam champion and top-10 player Rybakina from Kazakhstan in the first round.

Rybakina won Wimbledon in 2022 and reached the Australian Open final the following year, which she lost to Aryna Sabalenka.

The match's result finished as many assumed it might; with Rybakina cruising into the second round with a straight-sets victory 6-1, 6-1 on Margaret Court Arena.

It was an already-made champion against a rising star.

"If you were to compare academically, it's like being asked to submit your PhD before you've even finished your HSC (high school certificate). It's a very steep climb," English former tennis player and commentator Sam Smith said on Nine.

Elena Rybakina did not take any chances against young Emerson Jones. (Hannah Peters: Getty Images)

But despite the age and career accomplishments differential, Rybakina did not take it easy.

The 25-year-old was relentless, particularly on her big serves, and did not take any chances against the youngster.

At one point, she put down four aces in a row to claim a game after being down 0-40.

"Welcome to the big time Emerson. Not going to be many bigger servers in the game," Smith added.

"[This is] the toughest opponent of her career. It's been quite an education."

Yet Jones was impressive in holding her own.

Fellow Nine commentator Alicia Molik added in: "She's a star on the rise and this exposure will help her career."

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