Brisbane International Tennis results: Rafael Nadal beats Jason Kubler, Rinky Hijikata wins over Tomas Machac
In just his second game of tennis after a 12-month injury lay-off, world No.672 Rafael Nadal has stunned hometown hero Jason Kubler in a dominant display at the Brisbane International.
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Jason Kubler knew the odds were stacked against him.
The Aussie suggested as much a day earlier when he declared he could “lose 6-1 6-1 and not many people would bat an eye”.
But Rafael Nadal’s stunning 6-1 6-2 demolition of the Brisbane International’s local hope still came as a shock.
Kubler could do little more than laugh and sometimes applaud as the world No.672 - in his second game back from a 12-month injury lay-off - looked every bit the 22-time Grand Slam champion of years past.
Kubler appeared understandably nervous as he stood opposite one of tennis’ all-time greats.
And it showed in his game early.
Broken to love on his opening service game, Kubler let fly with a handful of loose ground strokes that either went long or were rightfully punished by Nadal.
Even when he played what looked to be a solid point, a 37-year-old Nadal - who only a month ago still feared he might never play again - would scramble his way back into the rally.
A ridiculous backhand overhead winner to clinch a 4-0 first set lead underlined the absolute class of the two-time Australian Open champion - and the mammoth task ahead of his Aussie rival.
Let’s not forget this was also Kubler’s second singles game back from a significant knee injury suffered at the US Open last August.
It was as much a fitness test for he as it was Nadal.
He also struggled with an apparent right forearm complaint from mid-way through the first set.
The mountain just kept getting bigger.
After seven knee surgeries and years of playing on clay courts far from home, Thursday night was a dream come true for Kubler.
The enthusiasm of his home crowd helped to dull some of the disappointment of the defeat.
But he will be disappointed. Because his best is better than Thursday’s showing.
As for Nadal, the super Spaniard continues to play down his form. Even after comprehensively outplaying former US Open champion Dominic Thiem in the opening around - and demolishing Kubler - his focus, he says, is only on staying healthy.
With more performances such as this, minds will quickly wander to the Australian Open and whether he really can mount a challenge.
HIJIKATA HAILS DEMON AS HE PREPARES FOR HIS BIGGEST TEST
Rising Aussie star Rinky Hijikata wants to emulate the giant-killing form of Alex de Minaur and “stick it” to the doubters as he prepares for one of the biggest matches of his young tennis career.
King of clutch Hijikata twice came back from love-40 on his service game to outlast tricky Czech Tomas Machac 5-7 6-2 7-6 (4) on Thursday and book his place in the Brisbane International final eight.
He will face world No.14 and second seed Grigor Dimitrov in just his second-ever ATP quarter-final appearance.
Hijikata, 22, hailed de Minaur as “a great leader” for the Australian contingent after his stunning 6-4 6-4 win over world No.1 Novak Djokovic on Wednesday night – and said he had been motivated by the Aussie No.1’s mentality.
“I watched Demon’s match yesterday – pretty incredible what he’s been able to do,” Hijikata said.
“I feel like he’s made a lot of strides over the last 12 months. I think it’s been pretty inspirational for all the other Aussie guys. I feel like he’s such a great leader of the pack at the moment – everyone’s really trying to strive to get to where he is.
“You see a result like that and it really kind of motivates you to be better and do more and try to get there. I feel like he’s a big reason why we have so many Aussies in the top 100 at the moment.
“What he said after the match, how he’s been written off his whole career, people have put a ceiling on him, kind of always had doubts about his game, how far he could get … I feel like that kind of resonates with a lot of the Aussies.
“A lot of us have always kind of had a ceiling put on us. To see him and see what he’s been able to do, how he’s been able to kind of stick it to all the people that have said that about him is really cool. I feel like a lot of that resonated with me and I’m sure a lot of the other guys as well.”
The Sydney native, who won the 2023 Australian Open doubles title with compatriot Jason Kubler, enjoyed a breakout singles campaign last year which included a run to the fourth round at the US Open.
The world No.71 will reach a career-high ranking after his performances in Brisbane.
He was the third Australian through to the quarter-finals after James Duckworth defeated Yannick Hanfmann on Wednesday and Jordan Thompson was handed a walkover.
Hijikata showed incredible grit to outlast Machac – saving 10 of 13 break points in the process – to back up his stunning straight-sets victory over fellow Aussie Thanasi Kokkinakis in the opening round.
Having played the bulk of his career on the ITF and Challenger circuits in front of small crowds, Hijikata’s aim is to become an ATP regular in 2024 and continue his rapid rise up the rankings.
With stars in his eyes and big scalps on the agenda, Hijikata said he was ready for one of the biggest tests of his young career in the form of No.2 seed Dimitrov.
“Grigor had a very good end to the season last year, he’s in some great form,” he said.
“Yeah, I’m looking forward to it. I’ll see what I can do. Hopefully I’ll be able to put together a good match and yeah, the crowd can kind of get behind me again.”
“I feel like the bigger the crowd, the more people are watching, the bigger the moment, I feel like I really enjoy that. That’s kind of what I really get up for.
“I’m never going to shy away from a big moment. That’s why I picked up a racquet in the first place. I dreamed of playing in home tournaments, big crowds, matches like that. That’s what you look forward to.
“That’s what you look forward to throughout all of pre-season when you’re getting put through the gauntlet, (when) you’re in the hurt locker. That’s what you’re doing it for.
“That’s what motivates me. I feel like, yeah, I want to keep improving and I want to keep playing on bigger stages and bigger courts. That’s always been my goal. That still is to this day.”
AUSSIE NO.1 BOUNCED BY TEEN PRODIGY
Aussie No.1 Arina Rodionova was bounced out of the Brisbane International in straight sets on Thursday by Russian teenage tennis prodigy Mirra Andreeva.
Rodionova, 34, was the last Australian standing in the women’s draw after Olivia Gadecki and Daria Saville both lost their second round matches on Wednesday.
But she was no match for one of the rising stars of the WTA tour, who only a day earlier had dispatched world No.15 Liudmila Samsonova – also in straight sets.
Rodionova would have risen inside the top 100 for the very first time with a win over Andreeva. But the 16-year-old sensation was scintillating, racing away to a 6-1 6-1 victory in under an hour.
It sets up an intriguing quarter-final clash between Andreeva and 19-year-old Czech star, Linda Noskova.
Noskova was the talk of tennis this time last year when she burst onto the scene as an 18-year-old in Adelaide, knocking off Victoria Azarenka and then-world No.2 Ons Jabeur to reach the final.
She lost a close decider to Aryna Sabalenka, who would go on to win the Australian Open later that month.
PLISKOVA’S BRISBANE TITLE DEFENCE OVER
Reigning Brisbane International champion Karolina Pliskova’s title defence was halted by No.3 seed Jelena Ostapenko 6-2 4-6 6-3 in the third round on Thursday.
Three-time Brisbane champion and former world No.1 Pliskova, who a day earlier played incredible tennis to knock Naomi Osaka out, sent down 18 aces but was unable to match the ground strokes of her Latvian rival.
Ostapenko produced a ridiculous 53 winners.
The 2017 French Open champion and 2023 Australian Open quarter-finalist will meet another former Brisbane champion, Victoria Azarenka, in the next round.
ANOTHER AUSSIE THROUGH TO QUARTER-FINALS
Jordan Thompson is into the quarter-finals at the Brisbane International after his French opponent Ugo Humbert withdrew prior to Thursday’s second round match.
Thompson, 29, dispatched fellow Aussie Alexander Vukic in the opening round to set up a meeting with fourth seed Humbert.
The pair were due to play early on Thursday, however the Frenchman – who also withdrew from his doubles match on Wednesday due to illness – was unable to get up for the match, handing Thompson a walkover.
Thompson now moves into the final eight in Brisbane, where he will play the winner of tonight’s Pat Rafter Arena blockbuster between Rafael Nadal and Jason Kubler.
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