Kimberly Birrell def. Petra Marcinko 3-6, 7(7)-6(4), 6-3 — US Open 2026 R128

Match recap

Kimberly Birrell defeated Petra Marcinko 3-6, 7(7)-6(4), 6-3 in the R128 of the US Open 2026.

The break-back settled it. Serving for the match at 6-5, Marcinko was broken in game 12 for 6-6, the day's only match point going with it, and Birrell answered by taking the tiebreak, then breaking again in game 3 of the decider for 2-1. The return games were the separator: 6 of 8 break points converted, against an opponent who saved just 1 of the 8 she faced. Then the errors arrived. Marcinko out-hit her 38 winners to 24 and won more points, 105 to 101, and it bought nothing, as 21 of her unforced errors landed in the third set alone. The WTA No. 69's five-match losing run, dating to Wimbledon, ends in the US Open first round.

Match stats

Kimberly Birrell: 3 aces, 24 winners, 59% first serves, 12 double faults, 7/8 break points. Petra Marcinko: 6 aces, 37 winners, 46% first serves, 10 double faults, 6/12 break points.

Profiles: Kimberly Birrell · Petra Marcinko — US Open 2026

Head-to-head

Kimberly Birrell and Petra Marcinko have met 3 times, with Kimberly Birrell leading the head-to-head 2–1.

• ATX Open 2026 R32 — Kimberly Birrell won 0-6, 6-3, 6-4
• Eastbourne International 2026 R16 — Petra Marcinko won 6-1, 6-4

Full Kimberly Birrell vs Petra Marcinko head-to-head →