Australian wildcard Rinky Hijikata admits he feels both disappointed and proud after gallantly pushing world No.3 Rafael Nadal to four sets in his Grand Slam debut.
New York, USA, 31 August 2022 | Matt Trollope
As far as Grand Slam main-draw debuts come, perhaps none have ever been bigger than what Rinky Hijikata experienced at the US Open.
The 21-year-old Aussie entered Arthur Ashe Stadium – the world’s biggest tennis stadium, in New York – to face Rafael Nadal, one of the greatest players to have ever played the game.
And while he hinted before the tournament at his excitement to face the legendary Spaniard, a little part of him found the stage slightly daunting – as you would imagine any debutant would.
“(Initially) I was pretty nervous, I think I whiffed about three backhand returns in that first game, which is not the best way to start the match,” Hijikata smiled.
“But I managed to put in a good service game and kind of get my teeth a little bit into the match, and once I did, then I think I was pretty comfortable out there.
“I’ve always said I love playing on the big courts, and there’s no better court to play on, really, than Arthur Ashe Stadium.
“I loved every minute; the crowd was electric. It was crazy; it’s probably the loudest atmosphere I’ve ever played in by far. And it was a lot of fun.”
Know the name: Rinky Hijikata.
The 🇦🇺 takes the first set over Nadal, 6-4. pic.twitter.com/TamN3zFBKJ
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 31, 2022
In front of approximately 20,000 fans, Hijikata rose to the occasion and snatched the first set from Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam champion who this year won the Australian Open and Roland Garros titles.
But Nadal, as he so often does, raised his level in response, and to a place the Sydneysider could not match.
After a thoroughly entertaining three-hour-plus tussle, Nadal extended his unblemished Grand Slam win-loss record in 2022 to 20-0.
“It’s not easy. These guys make it look easy, but it’s three hours of pretty gruelling tennis,” Hijikata said, following his 4-6 6-2 6-3 6-3 first-round defeat.
“I’ve got to be able to maintain for a longer period of time and that’s what I’ll go back and work on.
“I’m pretty proud of the way I competed out there. I just wanted represent myself and everyone back home in Sydney and everyone (at my college), so I gave it all I could. It wasn’t enough, but I left it all out there.
“I kind…
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