2020-21 Men's Tennis Roster
Rinky Hijikata
- Height:
- 5-11
- Class:
- Sophomore
- Hometown:
- Sydney, NSW, Australia
- High School:
- Karabar HS/The King's School
2020-21 SEASON
Final Rankings: No. 22 singles
Earned All-America honors in singles, reaching the NCAA Round of 16 ... Finished the year ranked No. 22 in singles ... Posted a 14-2 singles record at No. 2 and No. 3 singles despite fighting a midseason ankle injury ... Overcame the injury to post his first All-America season ... Was named first-team All-ACC ... Earned a spot on the Academic All-ACC Team and the ACC Academic Honor Roll.
2019-20 SEASON
Final Rankings: No. 67 singles
Won the ITA Carolina Regional Rookie of the Year award ... Joined the UNC team late in the indoor season after winning a qualifying match at the Australian Open in January ... Despite limited time on the court, he reached as high as No. 47 in the ITA singles rankings ... Was ranked No. 67 in the final (March 3) rankings ... Went undefeated in both singles (4-0, all in dual matches) and doubles (7-0 teaming with Benjamin Sigouin, all in duals) in 2020 ... Won the Top Newcomer award from the team’s strength and conditioning staff for his work in the weight room ... Named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll
PREP
World Junior Team Tennis U14 Autralian representative … Junior Davis Cup U16 Australian representative … Australian Open Junior (GA) singles quarterfinalist in January 2018 … AGL Loy Yang Traralgon Junior International (G1) singles round of 16 and doubles runnerup in January 2018 … Osaka Mayor’s Cup World Super Junior (GA) GA) singles quarterfinalist in October 2017 … Sarawak Chief Minister’s Cup (G3) singles winner and doubles semifinalist in October 2017 … Earned No. 1 ranking in Australia in his age bracket … Two-time NSW AAGPs 1sts Tennis Team Premiers … Australian representative at the 2013 Longines Futures Aces … 2015 WJT and 2017 Junior Davis Cup … Runnerup in 2014 Australian High School Teams Competition … Attended The King’s School in Sydney, Australia, and Karabar Distance Education High School in Australia … Coached by Jarrad Bunt … The youngest player ever to join the King’s School varsity team (at age 11 in 2013) … Played five years of rugby and swam for eight years … Also played soccer for three years and trained in surf lifesaving for two years.
Personal—Rinky Hijikata is the son of Junko and Makoto Hijikata … Born on February 23, 2001, in Sydney Australia … Undeclared academic major.
