Sydney teenager Rinky Hijikata produced one of the most striking upsets on the opening day of Australian Open qualifying in the Middle East, defeating an experienced American ranked some 450 places higher than him.
The promising 19-year-old Hijikata, who’s ranked a lowly 685 in the world but looks to have the potential to rise swiftly, made surprisingly light work of beating the big-serving Christopher Eubanks 6-2 6-3 as the men’s qualifiers kicked off in Doha.
The former Youth Olympics doubles silver medallist joined Jason Kubler, who later won an all-Aussie battle with Matt Ebden 7-5 2-6 6-4, in the second round.
Meanwhile, over in Dubai where the women’s qualifiers were taking place, Ellen Perez, the lone Australian woman in action on Sunday, also progressed, fighting back in a thrilling final set to edge out American Caroline Dolehide 6-3 5-7 7-5.
Twenty Aussies have flown to the Gulf, seeking to get through three sudden-death matches and earn one of the coveted 16 men’s and 16 women’s places on offer for the Open.
“It would be a dream come true,” said Hijikata, as he pondered being just two wins from Melbourne.
“But I’m not even thinking about that yet. Just have to think about the next match, not getting ahead of myself at all.”
Hijikata, like so many other players, hasn’t seen much competitive action since this time last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the University of North Carolina student says he has used his nine-month spell back home in Australia to transform his game.
“I think I’ve improved a lot over those nine months. It was a massive opportunity for me to get my body right, get as fit and strong as I could, working at the National Academy, spending lots of time in the gym.
“Personally, I feel I’m a completely different player to a year ago. I’m a little bit fitter and stronger and it’s helped me out on the court.”
That was evident in how he dismantled the big game of the 6ft 7in Eubanks, ranked 235 in the world, in just an hour and a quarter.
He broke the 24-year-old’s delivery twice in the opening set and then maintained his composure when facing two break points while serving for the match.
Perez, a 25-year-old left-hander based in Melbourne, showed real resilience in beating Dolehide, an American ranked 84 places higher than her on the WTA computer.
She was 5-3 down in the final set but reeled off the final four games to win after just over two hours of battle, cheered on by her Australian teammates.
“The Aussies have a great camaraderie out here,” she said. “We really help each other out. I saw all the Aussies come out and support me – that was awesome, I really felt their energy.”
Kubler was delighted with his win, having not played a professional match since March, even if it meant he knocked out Ebden, a mate he’s been practising with in Perth.
“Personally, I like playing friends because I know it’ll be a good match and at the end, you’ll still be friends,” said the man from Brisbane, who laughs that he’s hoping to get to Melbourne to match his girlfriend Maddison Inglis, who’s made three Grand Slam main draws.
“I’ve got to catch up with her – she can’t be making all the money,” he joked.
Two other Australians departed early in Doha, Akira Santillan losing to Swiss Marc-Andrea Huesler 6-3 3-6 6-3 and Blake Mott going down 6-4 6-3 to Sweden’s Elias Ymer.
