US Open: Aussie wildcard ’s dream US Open run comes to crushing end
Rinky Hijikata’s shock US Open run is over after a straight sets loss at the hands of 10th seed Frances Tiafoe.
Australian wildcard Rinky Hijikata’s stunning US Open charge into the round of 16 has come to a shuddering halt in a straight sets loss to American Frances Tiafoe.
Hijikata, 22, was no match for 10th seed Tiafoe who produced a disciplined performance on the way to a 6-4, 6-1, 6-4 victory on the Louis Armstrong Stadium court at Flushing Meadows.
Tiafoe, who reached the semi-finals of the US Open last year where he lost in five sets to eventual champion Carlos Alcaraz, now advances to an all-American US Open quarter-final where he faces unseeded Ben Shelton in the last eight on Tuesday.
Despite the loss, Hijikata’s performance caps a breakout year for the young Aussie.
He marked his Grand Slam singles debut at the Australian Open in January with a first round win before taking the doubles title at melbourne Park with Jason Kubler.
His performance at Flushing Meadows will catapult him into the top 100 of the ATP singles rankings for the first time.
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