Rinky Hijikata
Rinky Hijikata is an Australian right-hander, born in Sydney on 23 February 2001 to Japanese parents. He played college tennis at the University of North Carolina before turning professional in 2021, and in 2023 he won the Australian Open men’s doubles title with Jason Kubler. The same year he reached the fourth round of the US Open in singles as a wildcard, still his best Grand Slam singles result.
The 2026 season brought the biggest singles wins of his career. He came through qualifying at Indian Wells and reached the fourth round, beating Alexander Bublik on the way, and at the Paris Masters in November he came through qualifying again, then beat Luciano Darderi, Novak Djokovic and Tomás Martín Etcheverry to reach his first Masters 1000 quarter-final, where Luca Van Assche beat him 6-4, 6-7(4), 7-5. The run lifted him to a career-high World No. 59.
Player Profile
| Full name | Rinky Hijikata |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 23 February 2001 |
| Nationality | Australian (born in Sydney) |
| Height | 5ft 10in / 1.78m |
| Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
| Turned pro | 2021 |
| Highest ranking | World No. 59 (November 2026) |
| Best Grand Slam result | Fourth round, US Open 2023 |
| ATP titles | 0 in singles, 2 in doubles |
| Grand Slam titles | 1 in doubles (Australian Open 2023) |
Current Ranking & Recent Form
| Paris Masters 2026 | Quarter-finals: came through qualifying, beat Luciano Darderi 6-2, 6-2, Novak Djokovic 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 and Tomás Martín Etcheverry 2-6, 6-3, 7-5, then lost 6-4, 6-7(4), 7-5 to Luca Van Assche in his first Masters 1000 quarter-final |
|---|---|
| Indian Wells 2026 | Fourth round: came through qualifying and beat Alexander Bublik on the way |
| US Open 2023 | Fourth round: reached as a wildcard, his best Grand Slam singles result |
| Australian Open 2023 (doubles) | Championwith Jason Kubler: beat Hugo Nys and Jan Zieliński 6-4, 7-6(4) in the final |
Playing Style & Strengths
Hijikata is a quick, energetic baseliner who relies on movement and returning more than raw power, and at 1.78m he is one of the shorter players on the tour. His doubles background shows at the net: he is comfortable finishing points forward, the skill that won him the 2023 Australian Open doubles title. Hard courts suit him best, and his best singles results have all come on them, from the fourth round of the 2023 US Open to the 2026 Paris quarter-finals.
Hijikata Betting Tips & Predictions
Hijikata is usually the underdog against top-30 opponents, but 2026 showed he can win those matches: Djokovic and Bublik both lost to him. Three of his four main-draw matches in Paris went to a deciding set, so the set and game markets have often been a better angle than his outright match price, especially against players who rely on rhythm from the baseline.
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