Emma Navarro Stunned By Wildcard, Novak Djokovic-Nick Kyrgios Doubles Run Ends At Brisbane
Australian wildcard Kimberly Birrell stunned second seed Emma Navarro on Wednesday while the doubles act of Novak Djokovic and Nick Kyrgios came to a shuddering halt at the Brisbane International. But it was all smiles from defending men's champion Grigor Dimitrov, who powered into the quarter-finals in straight sets. In the opening match on Pat Rafter Arena, Birrell matched world number eight Navarro stroke-for-stroke to put a dent in the American's Australian Open preparations. Navarro had a stellar 2024, going deep in all four Grand Slams including a run to the semi-finals of the US Open. She was expected to brush aside the challenge of 26-year-old Birrell, who has never broken into the top 100 in her 10 years on the WTA Tour.
