Rinky Hijikata claims a hard-fought win to succeed in the Brisbane Worldwide quarterfinals, making a nine-year first for Australian males.
Brisbane, Queensland, 4 January 2024 | Jackson Mansell
For the primary time since 2015, three Australian males have superior to the quarterfinals of the Brisbane Worldwide, with Rinky Hijikata the newest to progress in a three-set epic.
Hijikata’s 5-7 6-2 7-6(4) win over Tomas Machac sees the 22-year-old attain his second profession ATP quarterfinal.
Hijikata served for the opening set, however surrendered his probability with a double fault at 15-40. Machac pounced on this chance by holding to like, earlier than breaking the Aussie as soon as once more to say the primary set.
The Czech seemed to push additional forward throughout Hijikata’s first service sport, however the Sydneysider would save 4 break factors, charging to a second-set triumph.
Set three was extra evenly poised, with break factors cancelling one another out early.
Machac pushed Hijikata’s service video games to the restrict, nonetheless the Aussie was in a position to stay composed and maintain on. It was throughout these intervals the place Hijikata felt he wanted to stay regimented.
“There have been just a few too many instances there (when) I assumed I used to be making a gift of just a few too many freebies,” he mentioned.
“I simply tried to undergo my course of, land my serve and play the purpose that I would like.”
A fast maintain from the Australian Open 2023 doubles champion within the twelfth sport noticed the deciding set go to a tiebreak. Unforced errors from the Czech helped Hijikata cruise to victory.
“It was a really troublesome match at this time. I felt like Tomas performed some actually good tennis in patches. I felt like I performed some actually good tennis in patches. Undoubtedly a little bit of a curler coaster,” he mentioned.
“I felt like I executed nicely once I needed to, managed to maintain my head nicely, actually attempt to play my sport within the massive moments. I felt like that was most likely the distinction ultimately.”
> VIEW: Brisbane Worldwide 2024 males’s singles draw
Hijikata will face both German Daniel Altmaier or world No.2 Grigor Dimitrov within the subsequent spherical.
Jordan Thompson additionally progressed to the quarterfinals after opponent Ugo Humbert withdrew as a result of sickness. The 29-year-old units up a possible 2022 Roland Garros first spherical rematch with Rafael Nadal.
Hijikata and Thompson be a part of James Duckworth because the Australian males who’ve superior to the quarterfinals. Duckworth additionally reached the ultimate eight in 2015, alongside Sam Groth and Bernard Tomic.
Aussies in motion – Brisbane Worldwide
TODAY’S RESULTS
Males’s singles, second spherical
[WC] Rinky Hijikata (AUS) d [Q] Tomas Machac (CZE) 5-7 6-2 7-6(4)
Jordan Thompson (AUS) d [4] Ugo Humbert (FRA) w/o
[WC] Rafael Nadal (ESP) d [WC] Jason Kubler (AUS) 6-1 6-2
Girls’s singles, third spherical
Mirra Andreeva d [WC] Arina Rodionova (AUS) 6-1 6-1
Males’s doubles, second spherical
[1] Kevin Krawietz (GER)/Tim Puetz (GER) d [WC] James Duckworth (AUS)/Chris O’Connell (AUS) 6-4 4-6 [10-5]
Males’s doubles, quarterfinals
Max Purcell (AUS)/Jordan Thompson (AUS) d John-Patrick Smith (AUS)/Andreas Mies (GER) 7-6(6) 7-6(0)
COMING UP
Males’s singles, quarterfinals
[Q] James Duckworth (AUS) v [1] Holger Rune (DEN)
[WC] Rinky Hijikata (AUS) v [2] Grigor Dimitrov (BUL)
Jordan Thompson (AUS) v [WC] Rafael Nadal (ESP)
Girls’s doubles, quarterfinals
[WC] Daria Saville (AUS)/Daria Kasatkina v Anastasia Potapova/Yana Sizikova
Males’s doubles, semifinals
Max Purcell (AUS)/Jordan Thompson (AUS) v TBC
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