Rinky Hijikata bows out in fourth round in New York

A career-high ranking and the biggest cheque of his career were rewards for an Aussie wildcard despite a fourth-round US Open loss.

Rinky Hijikata wanted to be the US Open party pooper and take out the hometown hero.

But instead the Australian wildcard had his own wild ride ended by Frances Tiafoe and was denied a spot in the quarter-finals in a straight-sets fourth-round loss.

Having been given a wildcard in the year’s final grand slam, Hijikata still produced his best-ever run, collecting a career-best cheque of $440,000 and a rankings boost from No.110 in the world to a career-high 81st.

That puts the Sydneysider in line for direct entry to the Australian Open in January.

Rinky Hijikata has enjoyed his best week at a grand slam. Picture: Sarah Stier/Getty Images

The loss leaves world No.13 Alex de Minaur as Australia‘s last man standing at Flushing Meadows and he’ll play third-seeded 2021 US Open champion Daniil Medvedev on Tuesday (AEST) for a place in the quarter-finals.

Hijikata proved no match for Tiafoe, a US Open semi-finalist last year who charged to within a victory of another last-four appearance with an impressive 6-4 6-1 6-4 victory.

Hijikata’s first run into the second week of a major seemed to have taken a toll on the 22-year-old, who didn’t serve a single ace, to his opponent’s 15, winning just nine games for the match.