University of North Carolina Athletics
Photo by: Pete Staples/USTA
Hijikata Continues US Open Run Into Round Of 16
September 1, 2023 | Men's Tennis
Rinky Hijikata's professional star continues to rise.
A 2021 All-America at the University of North Carolina as a sophomore, Hijikata displayed poise and confidence that belie his age and advanced to the round of 16 of 2023 US Open with a four-set win over Zhizhen Zhang of China on Friday afternoon at the US Open near New York City.
Hijikata beat Zhang, 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, in a match that lasted 3:10. He advances to Sunday's fourth round, where he will meet American Frances Tiafoe.
On the heels of a straight-set win in the second round, in which he lost just four total games while beating #57 Marton Fucsovics on Wednesday, Hijikata continued his career-best singles run in a Grand Slam event by reaching the fourth round.
"There's been a lot of hard work put into this and I'm just stoked to see the rewards being reaped now," Hijikata told @StanSportAU after the match. "It's a team effort here, and I've got a lot of people behind me. I'm just very thankful and stoked with the win today.
"It's unbelievable, it's what I've always dreamed of doing. Ever since I picked up a raquet, these are the moments you dream of. To play in front of crowds like this, it's absolutely hectic here, it felt like a Davis Cup match. There were a lot of Chinese supporters out here, a lot of Aussies, a lot of Tar Heels, so it's unbelievable. I loved every second of it, even the people that were supporting against me."
At 22 years, six months, Hijikata is the youngest Australian player in a Grand Slam fourth round since Alex de Minaur (20 yrs. 6 months) advanced to the 2019 US Open round of 16.
Zhang had won two five-set matches entering the match with Hijikata, including beating fifth seed Casper Ruud of Norway in the second round on Wednesday. Boasting a career-best ranking of #110 in the world and displaying a strong forehand, Hijikata started strong, picked up a break and won the first set, 6-3.
In the second set, he broke Zhang again to take a 4-3 lead. After holding serve to take a 5-3 lead, he persisted in the next game after Zhang fought off three consecutive set points, responding with two straight winners to win the set, 6-3. Hijikata did not face a break point through the first two sets.
Zhang won his first break of the match in the first game of the third set, seizing momentum and taking a 2-0 lead before winning the frame, 6-4.
Hijikata responded in the fourth set, picking up a break to take a 4-2 lead. In the seventh game, he faced a break point but rallied with a powerful backhand winner down the line off a second serve to force deuce. He followed with his 12th ace of the match for the advantage and held with a pair of back-to-back volleys near the net after Zhang's return of serve.
Zhang held in the next game to make it 5-3, but Hijikata clinched the match with an ace, taking the fourth set by a score of 6-3. Hijikata won 71 percent of his first serves and had 55 winners to 36 for Zhang in a competitive match.
Hijikata is the first wild card entry to reach the US Open round of 16 in two years. He will face Frances Tiafoe of the United States in the fourth round on Sunday.
A 2021 All-America at the University of North Carolina as a sophomore, Hijikata displayed poise and confidence that belie his age and advanced to the round of 16 of 2023 US Open with a four-set win over Zhizhen Zhang of China on Friday afternoon at the US Open near New York City.
Hijikata beat Zhang, 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, in a match that lasted 3:10. He advances to Sunday's fourth round, where he will meet American Frances Tiafoe.
On the heels of a straight-set win in the second round, in which he lost just four total games while beating #57 Marton Fucsovics on Wednesday, Hijikata continued his career-best singles run in a Grand Slam event by reaching the fourth round.
"There's been a lot of hard work put into this and I'm just stoked to see the rewards being reaped now," Hijikata told @StanSportAU after the match. "It's a team effort here, and I've got a lot of people behind me. I'm just very thankful and stoked with the win today.
"It's unbelievable, it's what I've always dreamed of doing. Ever since I picked up a raquet, these are the moments you dream of. To play in front of crowds like this, it's absolutely hectic here, it felt like a Davis Cup match. There were a lot of Chinese supporters out here, a lot of Aussies, a lot of Tar Heels, so it's unbelievable. I loved every second of it, even the people that were supporting against me."
At 22 years, six months, Hijikata is the youngest Australian player in a Grand Slam fourth round since Alex de Minaur (20 yrs. 6 months) advanced to the 2019 US Open round of 16.
Zhang had won two five-set matches entering the match with Hijikata, including beating fifth seed Casper Ruud of Norway in the second round on Wednesday. Boasting a career-best ranking of #110 in the world and displaying a strong forehand, Hijikata started strong, picked up a break and won the first set, 6-3.
In the second set, he broke Zhang again to take a 4-3 lead. After holding serve to take a 5-3 lead, he persisted in the next game after Zhang fought off three consecutive set points, responding with two straight winners to win the set, 6-3. Hijikata did not face a break point through the first two sets.
Zhang won his first break of the match in the first game of the third set, seizing momentum and taking a 2-0 lead before winning the frame, 6-4.
Hijikata responded in the fourth set, picking up a break to take a 4-2 lead. In the seventh game, he faced a break point but rallied with a powerful backhand winner down the line off a second serve to force deuce. He followed with his 12th ace of the match for the advantage and held with a pair of back-to-back volleys near the net after Zhang's return of serve.
Zhang held in the next game to make it 5-3, but Hijikata clinched the match with an ace, taking the fourth set by a score of 6-3. Hijikata won 71 percent of his first serves and had 55 winners to 36 for Zhang in a competitive match.
Hijikata is the first wild card entry to reach the US Open round of 16 in two years. He will face Frances Tiafoe of the United States in the fourth round on Sunday.
Have a moment, Rinky Hijikata.
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 1, 2023
He's into Round 4 of a Grand Slam for the first time in his career. pic.twitter.com/9IqZcGs6le
Through to the 4th Round of a Grand Slam for the first time, Rinky Hijikata reflects on his historic win at Flushing Meadows 👏
— Stan Sport (@StanSportAU) September 2, 2023
↳ US Open. Continues tomorrow from 1am AEST. Every Match. Ad-free. Centre Court in 4K UHD, on Stan Sport. #StanSportAU #USOpen @rinky_23 @duncanmcmc pic.twitter.com/5rwMfcJly5
The moment Rinky Hijikata reached his first 4th Rd at a slam! @usopen @TennisAustralia #USOpen @TheFirstServeAU pic.twitter.com/g1KxJmC2Wi
— Carolina Men's Tennis 🐏🎾 (@carolinatennis) September 1, 2023
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