Rinky Hijikata
Photo by: Tennis Australia
Hijikata Aiming For Wimbledon Doubles Title Saturday
July 11, 2025 | Men's Tennis
Former University of North Carolina All-America Rinky Hijikata will vie for his second Grand Slam championship on Saturday morning when he and partner David Pel will play in the Wimbledon men's doubles final. Action is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. Eastern Time, and ESPN will televise the match.
Hijikata and Pel came from behind to beat the event's top seed and the world's top-ranked team, Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic, 6-7 (2), 7-6 (5), 7-6 (9), in Thursday's epic semifinal match that lasted nearly three hours, saving two match points in the third set tiebreaker along the way.
Hijikata is a native of Australia who won the 2023 Australian Open doubles title as a wild card entry and is one of the top rising stars in professional tennis.
"Rinky is obviously extremely talented, but he's been playing the best I've ever seen him play both in singles and doubles at Wimbledon," Tar Heel head coach Sam Paul says. "He and his partner, David Pel, just met on the day before the championship started, and they've just clicked as a team despite not playing together previously. I think it speaks volumes about Rinky's character to be able to adjust like that. He's such a nice, quality person, and he's always been like that."
Hijikata is one of four former UNC players to win a Grand Slam title, joining Don Johnson (who won two), Freddie McNair and Vic Seixas. Both Johnson and Hijikata played at Carolina under Paul's tutelage. Sexias won the 1953 Wimbledon singles title, McNair won the 1976 French Open doubles champion ship, Johnson won a 2000 Wimbledon mixed doubles and 2001 Wimbledon doubles title and Hijikata added his 20223 Australian Open doubles title.
Hijikata starred in Chapel Hill in 2020 and 2021. He helped Carolina win the 2021 ITA Team Indoor National Championship and earned All-America honors in singles that spring as a sophomore before turning pro.
Hijikata and Pel came from behind to beat the event's top seed and the world's top-ranked team, Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic, 6-7 (2), 7-6 (5), 7-6 (9), in Thursday's epic semifinal match that lasted nearly three hours, saving two match points in the third set tiebreaker along the way.
Hijikata is a native of Australia who won the 2023 Australian Open doubles title as a wild card entry and is one of the top rising stars in professional tennis.
"Rinky is obviously extremely talented, but he's been playing the best I've ever seen him play both in singles and doubles at Wimbledon," Tar Heel head coach Sam Paul says. "He and his partner, David Pel, just met on the day before the championship started, and they've just clicked as a team despite not playing together previously. I think it speaks volumes about Rinky's character to be able to adjust like that. He's such a nice, quality person, and he's always been like that."
Hijikata is one of four former UNC players to win a Grand Slam title, joining Don Johnson (who won two), Freddie McNair and Vic Seixas. Both Johnson and Hijikata played at Carolina under Paul's tutelage. Sexias won the 1953 Wimbledon singles title, McNair won the 1976 French Open doubles champion ship, Johnson won a 2000 Wimbledon mixed doubles and 2001 Wimbledon doubles title and Hijikata added his 20223 Australian Open doubles title.
Hijikata starred in Chapel Hill in 2020 and 2021. He helped Carolina win the 2021 ITA Team Indoor National Championship and earned All-America honors in singles that spring as a sophomore before turning pro.
Don't miss breakfast at Wimbledon with a Tar Heel tomorrow!https://t.co/34Eqw7hiBN#GoHeels pic.twitter.com/CsRP2s4gh7
— Carolina Men's Tennis 🐏🎾 (@carolinatennis) July 11, 2025
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