Rinky Hijikata Makes Historic Breakthrough at Indian Wells
Australian tennis sensation Rinky Hijikata has soared to new heights in the California desert, securing a landmark victory to reach the fourth round of an ATP 1000 event for the very first time. The world No.62 defied expectations with a gritty performance against the 10th seed, Russian-born Kazakhstani player Alexander Bublik, triumphing 6-7 (3-7) 7-6 (7-3) 6-3 at Indian Wells on Monday, which was Tuesday in Australian Eastern Daylight Time.
Nerves of Steel in a Thrilling Encounter
Hijikata displayed remarkable composure to bounce back after dropping the first set, clinching the second in a tense tiebreak before making the only service break of the match in the decisive third set. Despite Bublik hitting more winners, 40 to Hijikata's 33, the Kazakhstani player also committed significantly more unforced errors, 49 compared to the Aussie's 27. Hijikata was rock-solid on serve, not conceding any break points, while converting one of the seven opportunities he created against Bublik. This victory marks Hijikata's first-ever win over a top-10 ranked player, a significant milestone in his career.
Revenge and Redemption for Hijikata
Reflecting on the match, Hijikata highlighted the contrast from last year, when he lost to Bublik at the Phoenix Challenger after an early exit at Indian Wells. "It was a bloody tough second round of a Challenger last year, and I'm glad we could play in the second week here this year," he said. "Obviously, he's a quality player. He's had a hell of a year, never easy to face, so I'm just pumped to get through." His next challenge will be against left-handed Englishman Cameron Norrie, who earlier upset another Australian, sixth-seeded Alex de Minaur, in straight sets.
De Minaur's Run Halted by Norrie
Earlier in the tournament, Alex de Minaur's campaign came to a screeching halt against Norrie. The world No.6 failed to flourish in the Southern California desert, with his British opponent bringing the heat in a 6-4 6-4 win. De Minaur had aimed to improve on last year's round-of-16 result but couldn't progress past the third round at this ATP 1000 event, often regarded as the sport's fifth grand slam. Although de Minaur blasted 25 winners compared to Norrie's 16, he also made more unforced errors, 30 to the Brit's 22. Norrie, ranked No.26, excelled on serve, winning 76 percent of points off his first delivery, while de Minaur managed only 66 percent. As one of the finest returners in the game, de Minaur struggled to break serve, converting just one of seven opportunities, whereas Norrie capitalized on three of four break points.
Other Notable Matches at Indian Wells
Norrie, the 2021 Indian Wells champion, was joined in the fourth round by fellow Brit Jack Draper, who defeated Argentina's Francisco Cerundolo 6-1 7-5. Draper's victory sets up a highly anticipated match against third seed Novak Djokovic. The 24-time grand slam champion overcame a second-set hiccup to beat American Aleksandar Kovacevic 6-4 1-6 6-4, reaching the last 16 for the first time since 2017. Djokovic, who has won a record-equalling five titles at the California desert event, asserted his authority to seal victory in two hours and two minutes after a shaky second set.
This tournament continues to showcase thrilling tennis action, with Hijikata's breakthrough performance highlighting the competitive spirit and rising talent in the sport.
