Australian wildcard Rinky Hijikata is thru to the fourth spherical within the US Open 2023 males’s singles competitors.
New York, USA, 1 September 2023 | Leigh Rogers
Rinky Hijikata thrives on the game’s largest levels, as he’s proving at this yr’s US Open.
The 22-year-old Australian scored a 3rd consecutive win in opposition to a higher-ranked opponent to advance to the fourth spherical at Flushing Meadows.
Exhibiting no indicators of nerves in his first main third-round look, a remarkably composed Hijikata recorded a powerful 6-3 6-3 4-6 6-3 victory immediately in opposition to China’s Zhang Zhizhen.
He fired 55 winners, together with 13 aces, in opposition to world No.67 Zhang of their three-hour and 10-minute encounter.
After not dealing with a break level within the opening two units, Hijikata was pressured to struggle more durable within the third and fourth units.
However the world No.110 survived a spirited comeback from Zhang and regained management to shut out a four-set victory.
This sees world No.110 Hijikata turn into the primary Australian wildcard to succeed in a Grand Slam fourth spherical since Nick Kyrgios’ breakout run at Wimbledon 2014.
“I wouldn’t have picked it initially of the week,” Hijikata stated.
“However I put plenty of arduous work in. I’ve at all times strived for these sort of outcomes and I’ve at all times felt that I’m able to having runs in these tournaments.
“However to have it occur this quickly, once I really feel like I’m nonetheless fairly new taking part in on the Grand Slams, it’s fairly cool.”
Hijikata now performs world No.10 Frances Tiafoe for a spot within the quarterfinals.
It is going to be his first profession assembly with the 25-year-old American, who was a US Open semifinalist final yr.
World No.13 Alex de Minaur is scheduled to play his third-round match tomorrow.
If he beats world No.25 Nicolas Jarry, it should mark the primary time that two Australian males have reached the fourth spherical in New York since 2020.
Aussies in motion – US Open
RESULTS
Males’s singles, third spherical
[WC] Rinky Hijikata (AUS) d Zhang Zhizhen (CHN) 6-3 6-3 4-6 6-3
COMING UP
Males’s singles, third spherical
[13] Alex de Minaur (AUS) v [23] Nicolas Jarry (CHI)
Males’s singles, fourth spherical
[WC] Rinky Hijikata (AUS) v [10] Frances Tiafoe (USA)
> VIEW: US Open 2023 males’s singles draw
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