Into the final 16 of a Grand Slam for the first time, Rinky Hijikata has gone from a name to note to the one everyone is talking about at US Open 2023.
2 September 2023 | Tennis Australia
With abundant talent and a name like “Rinky”, said a smiling Casey Dellacqua, 22-year-old Sydneysider Rinky Hijikata has long been destined for tennis celebrity.
“Everyone is a fan of Rinky, aren’t they?” the Australian former professional told The AO Podcast earlier this week. “I mean, I love his name – I feel like he was just born to be a superstar, with the name Rinky Hijikata.”
And who could disagree as he constructs a career-best Grand Slam campaign at Flushing Meadows?
With US Open wins this week over higher-ranked opponents Pavel Kotov, Marton Fucsovics and Zhang Zhizhen, Hijikata has stepped firmly into the spotlight in only his third appearance in a singles main draw at a major.
“I wouldn’t have picked it at the start of the week,” Hijikata admitted. “But I put a lot of hard work in. I’ve always strived for these types of results and I’ve always felt that I am capable of having runs in these tournaments.”
Have a moment, Rinky Hijikata.
He’s into Round 4 of a Grand Slam for the first time in his career. pic.twitter.com/9IqZcGs6le
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 1, 2023
A year previously, Hijikata signalled the breakthrough performance with a sensational debut at Arthur Ashe Stadium. As a world No.198 wildcard, he extended four-time champion Rafael Nadal to four electrifying sets before an absorbed New York crowd.
Hijikata vowed to draw on that experience in New York this week.
“Obviously Rafa played too good for me, but I’m looking forward to going back and soaking up the atmosphere again,” he told tennis.com.au.
“It’s a great tournament to be a part of and hopefully this year I can get a couple of wins.”
> READ: Hijikata storms into fourth round at US Open 2023
Entering the US Open at a peak No.110 singles ranking, Hijikata has arguably exceeded those expectations with a trio of headline-grabbing wins.
His first-round match against Kotov extended four hours, while the best of the Australian’s talent was on show as he limited Marton Fucsovics, a Wimbledon quarterfinalist two years ago, to only four games in the second round.
Hijikata navigated a potential comeback against Zhang – an upset winner of 2022 men’s finalist Casper Ruud in his previous match…
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