Rinky Hijikata
 Hijikata in 2018 | |
| Country (sports) |  Australia |
|---|---|
| Residence | Sydney, Australia |
| Born | 23 February 2001 Sydney, Australia[1] |
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) |
| Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 0–1 (at ATP Tour level, Grand Slam level, and in Davis Cup) |
| Career titles | 0 |
| Highest ranking | No. 308 (21 March 2022) |
| Current ranking | No. 308 (21 March 2022) |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Australian Open | Q2 (2020, 2021, 2022) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | 0–0 (at ATP Tour level, Grand Slam level, and in Davis Cup) |
| Career titles | 0 |
| Highest ranking | No. 340 (7 March 2022) |
| Current ranking | No. 340 (7 March 2022) |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| Australian Open | 2R (2022) |
| Last updated on: 3 January 2022. | |
Rinky Hijikata (born 23 February 2001) is an Australian tennis player. Hijikata has a career high ATP singles ranking of World No. 308 achieved on 21 March 2022.
Hijikata made his ATP main draw debut at the 2022 Melbourne Summer Set 1, after qualifying for the main draw. He also played doubles with Christopher O'Connell.
Personal life[]
Hijikata began playing tennis at age three or four. His dad is a tennis coach. His favourite player growing up was Lleyton Hewitt and later, Kei Nishikori.[2]
Career[]
2018–2020: Career Beginnings[]
In March 2018, Hijikata made his ITF debut at the Australia F3 in Mornington, Australia. He won his first match the following week at the Australia F4.
In October 2018, Hijikata won silver at the Tennis at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics – Boys' doubles, teaming with Bulgaria's Adrian Andreev.[3]
In January 2019, Hijikata was given a wildcard into the 2019 Australian Open – Men's Singles Qualifying. He lost in the first round. In March 2019, Hijikata reached the quarter-final and semi-finals in the ITF events in Mornington, Australia.
In September 2019, Hijikata won his first professional singles title at the M15 Fayetteville, in Arizona, United States.[4]
In January 2020, Hijikata was given a wildcard into the 2020 Australian Open – Men's Singles Qualifying, where he made the second round.
In February 2021, Hijikata was given a wildcard into the 2021 Australian Open – Men's Singles Qualifying, where he made the second round.
Hijikata won his second and third ITF titles in July 2021 and claimed a total of four ITF Futures singles titles during 2021.
Hijikata finished 2021 with a singles ranking of 369 as of 22 November 2021.
2022: ATP debut and first top 100 win[]
In January 2022, Hijikata made his ATP tour debut at the 2022 Melbourne Summer Set 1 after qualifying for the main draw. It was also Hijikata's first top 100 win, defeating world number 98 Henri Laaksonen in the final qualifying round.[5] He lost in the first round to eventual finalist, Maxime Cressy.
Hijikata lost in the second round of the 2022 Australian Open – Men's Singles Qualifying.[6][7]
Awards[]
In 2018 and 2019, Hijikata won the Newcombe Medal for Male Junior Athlete of the Year.[8]
ATP Challengers and ITF Futures finals[]
Singles: 8 (6–2)[]
Doubles: 3 (2–1)[]
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- 2001 births
- Living people
- Australian male tennis players
- Tennis players from Sydney
- Tennis players at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics
- Australian people of Japanese descent
- North Carolina Tar Heels men's tennis players
- Australian tennis biography stubs