{
  "id": 4704681,
  "title": "Aussie Birrell saves match point, advances to US Open second round",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/aussie-birrell-saves-match-point-advances-to-us-open-second-round",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-31T20:15:13.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News",
    "slug": "abc-news",
    "url": "https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-09-01/kim-birrell-defeats-petra-marcinko-in-us-open-first-round/107100632"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Kim Birrell, an Australian tennis player, has overcome a rain delay and saved match point, advancing to the second round of the US Open. At the US Open, Birrell defeated Petra Marcinko, marking her first win at the tournament in her fourth appearance. Four other Australians are also set to compete in the second round, including Alexei Popyrin, Rinky Hijikata, James Duckworth, and Maya Joint. Birrell had suffered a defeat in straight sets to Marcinko at Eastbourne two months prior, having lost the first set 6-0. After overcoming the rain delay, Birrell stepped onto the court and broke the jinx, winning 3-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-3. Birrell's victory secures her a match against world No.19 Ekaterina Alexandrova, with a guaranteed $US190,000 payday or more if she wins again on Wednesday.",
  "summary": "Gritty Kim Birrell has overcome a match point and a restless night's sleep to break her first-round jinx with a maiden US Open victory in New York.",
  "key_points": [
    "Australian Kim Birrell saves match point to advance to US Open second round",
    "Birrell defeats Petra Marcinko, first win at US Open in fourth appearance",
    "Four other Australians set to compete in second round at US Open"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Sydney Morning Herald",
        "title": "Gutsy Birrell breaks new ground at US Open as day two starts well for Australia",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/gutsy-birrell-breaks-new-ground-at-us-open-as-day-two-starts-well-for",
        "published": "2026-08-31T19:50:27.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Age",
        "title": "Gutsy Birrell breaks new ground at US Open as day two starts well for Australia",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/gutsy-birrell-breaks-new-ground-at-us-open-as-day-two-starts-well-for-4705140",
        "published": "2026-08-31T19:50:27.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "ABC News AU",
        "title": "Aussie Birrell saves match point, advances to US Open second round",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/aussie-birrell-saves-match-point-advances-to-us-open-second-round-4709928",
        "published": "2026-08-31T20:15:13.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Alcaraz makes confident return with US Open first round win",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/alcaraz-makes-confident-return-with-us-open-first-round-win",
        "published": "2026-08-31T20:28:16.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}