‘All the big events’: Australia’s new rising tennis star Hijikata finding a home in the top 100

Rinky Hijikata started 2024 as the lowest ranked of the eight Australians in the top 100. Despite being the youngest of that cohort, that’s not where he’s content to stay. He speaks to CALLUM DICK about his ambition and impatience.

He’s no Nick Kyrgios or Alex de Minaur. Not yet.

But Rinky Hijikata is in a hurry to be.

Amidst the Aussie sporting landscape, the 22-year-old from Sydney is – was – a relative unknown.

Until his incredible run to the 2023 Australian Open doubles title with Jason Kubler, Hijikata was a name known only to the true tennis diehards.

This summer is the season to change that.

For the more fickle fans among us, January each year is the time to tune back into tennis. When we learn the names of the Aussies flying the flag at Melbourne Park.

Those who are particularly interested might even Google those names. Do some digging; find an ATP profile.

Everything you need to know about Hijikata, the world No. 70, is written right there in black and white.

Rinky Hijikata of Australia after winning a point at the Adelaide International in January, 2024. Picture: Sarah Reed/Getty Images.

Best quality? Ambition. Worst quality? Impatience.

Hijikata has tasted Grand Slam success as a doubles star but he is in a hurry to convert that to the singles court.

His maiden major title alongside Kubler this time last year laid the platform for a career-best campaign for the rising Aussie ace.

He took the lead of fellow Aussie Max Purcell and chose to focus on his singles, to great success.

A run to the fourth round at the US Open last September signalled the arrival of another bona fide star of the future and by year’s end, Hijikata had broken through the top 100 barrier.

“It was a huge year for me,” Hijikata told this masthead.

“I feel like I finally went through the ranks and got past the Challengers stage, or whatever you want to call it, and played some bigger events which is what you dream of doing as a kid.

“Playing those events and having wins there was pretty cool. It gave me a lot of confidence.

“I learned as much as I could. I still feel like I’m very new to all this. It’s probably going to be my first year where I’m playing more tour events, hopefully. Everything still feels new and exciting and I just want to keep learning and improving.

“I really want to make a big push and keep racking up better results and find small ways to get an edge – that’s the biggest goal for this year.”

By the end of the first week of 2024, Hijikata had marked another major milestone.

He began the year as the lowest-ranked of eight Aussies inside the top 100.

Rinky Hijikata hits a return to USA's Frances Tiafoe during his remarkable 2023 US Open run, which put him on the map as a singles player. Picture: Kena Betancur / AFP.

But he wasn’t content being the ‘worst of the best’, so to speak.

He has already leapfrogged two of those, thanks to his impressive run to the quarter-finals in Brisbane, where he only lost to eventual champion Grigor Dimitrov.

Hijikata knows his rapid rise is not linear.

There will be peaks and troughs; the higher he climbs the harder it will be.

But he keeps his goals lofty because, why not?

He has already bypassed two of his fellow Aussies this year, and Hijikata has plans to go all the way to the top.

“I feel like it’s a healthy competition,” he said.

“We’re all rooting for each other. There’s great camaraderie between the guys at the moment. But at the same time, you don’t want to be left behind … so when you see all these guys doing really well and moving up (the rankings) and improving, it spurs you on to keep up and try to outdo one another.

“I think that has been a massive reason why we have so many guys doing well at the moment.

“I’m the youngest in the cohort at the moment of the Aussies in the top 100 and I feel like everyone has really been looking out for me and giving advice.

“It’s been great being able to talk to guys that have been on the same journey and path as me … who have found their feet and bigger events and managed to really cement themselves in the top 100, top 50.

Australia's Rinky Hijikata hits a return against Czech Republic's Tomas Machac during their men's singles match at the Brisbane International. Picture: Patrick Hamilton / AFP.

“So yeah, I’m just trying to learn from those guys and hopefully improve myself by listening to what they went through.”

Few players in history can claim to have reached the top 10 over the course of their careers.

That is the new benchmark De Minaur has set his young compatriot.

Hijikata is in a rush. But he is also realistic. At 22, the best years of his career remain ahead of him.

The next step is a solid Australian Open run. Then, build into the 2024 year – his first as an ATP Tour regular.

“Solidify myself in the top 100 and hopefully crack the top 50 – that’s the big one,” he said of his goals.

“Make sure I’m in all the big events – Masters, 500s, Grand Slams, whatever it is. Make sure I can get in those cuts and play those bigger events, because that’s where I want to be.

“That’s where I have the most fun, with the best crowds and best atmosphere.”