“The main reason was I struggled with some stomach issues in the lead-up to qualifying,” said Birrell, currently the world No.745 but with a career-high ranking of 154.
“I sort of had like a gut feeling that I didn’t want to go over there, and sort of go there [just] for match practice. I wanted to know that I could do really well and qualify, to do myself justice.
“I just felt l couldn’t do that purely because I didn’t have any matches under my belt, even any practice matches.”
Chinese teenager Wang Xiyu, who received an Asia-Pacific wildcard, has withdrawn, and Birrell was in the right place at the right time to take her spot, named alongside veteran Sam Stosur and Alexei Popyrin as the most recent wildcards.
Weeks on from her stomach complaint, Birrell said she was raring to go. Playing doubles in coming weeks and a lower-profile WTA event were on the horizon, but the goalposts have shifted.
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“I’m feeling really ready to play,” she said.
“I can’t believe I made the decision to not go, and then for this to have happened. I never, ever, ever thought that this was going to happen.
“I never used to believe in good luck, but there has been definitely been an element of luck that has gone into this crazy turn of events.
“But I guess with COVID … we’ve all learnt this year than anything could happen.”
Stosur, with a rankings position (112) that meant she narrowly missed direct entry, will play the Australian Open for a 19th time. The 36-year-old has missed only one Melbourne Park major since 2002. Popyrin, 21, was also just outside the rankings mark for direct entry.
There’s one men’s wildcard spot to fill after five-time runner-up Andy Murray tested positive to COVID-19 and was unable to travel to Australia to take his spot.
